Apparatus for cultivating plants

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cultivating plants includes a cabinet having a cultivation space, a temperature control device provided in the cabinet to adjust a temperature of the cultivation space, a door configured to open and close the cultivation space, a cultivation shelf provided in the cabinet and configured to seat a seed package, a lighting device provided in the cabinet to radiate light onto the cultivation shelf, and a water supply pipe provided in the cabinet to supply water to the cultivation shelf. The cultivation shelf includes a shelf tray that supports the seed package, a shelf base provided under the shelf tray to accommodate the water supplied from the water supply pipe, and a shutter provided to be openable on the seat. The water accommodated into the shelf base is introduced to the inside of the seat by passing through the shutter when the shutter is opened.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0086320, filed onJul. 13, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for cultivating plants.

In general, an apparatus for cultivating plants, which provides apredetermined cultivation chamber having environments that areappropriate to grow the plants so that the plants are stored in thepredetermined cultivation chamber. A configuration for supplying lightenergy required for the plant growth is provided in the apparatus forcultivating the plants, and the plats are grown by the suppliednutrients and light energy.

In recent years, an apparatus for cultivating plants, which is providedwith a cultivation space capable of being controlled in light,temperature, and moisture and a door opening and closing the cultivationspace so that the plants are capable of being grown in the home, isbeing developed.

A structure in which a multi-stage tray is disposed inside a cabinet,light is radiated from a light radiation portion to the tray, a nutrientsolution is supplied to the tray through a nutrient solution collectionbox, and the inside of the cabinet is maintained to a set temperature byan air cooling device and an air circulation fan to cultivate the plantsis disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1240375.

However, according to the related art having the above-describedstructure, a structure in which the nutrient solution is supplied to theinside of the entire tray when the plants are cultivated may beprovided, and also, the nutrient solution is also supplied to the entiretray even when the plants are partially cultivated in the tray. Thus,there is a limitation that mold or green algae are grown in an emptyspace.

In addition, there is a problem in that the nutrient solution suppliedto the plants is exposed through the entire tray, and thus, when alighting device operates, an environment under which generation of greenalgae or contaminants due to fur or mold is easy is provided to allow auser to feel discomfort.

A plant cultivator, in which a capsule containing seeds is seated in acase that defines a cultivation space opened and closed by a door, andlight, moisture, and temperature are capable of being respectivelycontrolled by a light source module, a culture solution module, and anair conditioning module, is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No.10-1954251.

However, according to the related art having the above-describedstructure, a structure in which the culture solution is supplied to theentire tray may be provided, and also, the culture solution may beinjected to a portion, on which the capsule is not mounted, so that theculture solution is exposed to the outside and thus is contaminated.

Particularly, when a closed environment is provided in a temperatureregion in which the plants are grown, the culture solution may be veryeasily contaminated, and thus, there is a limitation that, when mold orgreen algae are generated due to the contamination of the culturesolution, user's dissatisfaction is caused.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide an apparatus for cultivating plants, in which theinside of a cultivation space shielded by a door is improved insanitation.

Embodiments also provide an apparatus for cultivating plants, in whichthe outside of a cultivation shelf is prevented from being contaminatedby water.

Embodiments also provide an apparatus for cultivating plants, in whichwater is selectively supplied to a portion of an entire cultivationshelf, at which the plants are cultivated.

Embodiments also provide an apparatus for cultivating plants, in whichwater is selectively supplied to an area on which a seed package ismounted without an electrical device is not disposed on a cultivationshelf.

In an apparatus for cultivating plants according to an embodiment, acultivation shelf on which a seed package is seated is provided in acultivation space which is opened and closed by a door and controlled intemperature by a temperature adjustment device, and a shutter that isopened to supply and drain water when the seed package is seated isprovided in the cultivation shelf.

An apparatus for cultivating plants according to an embodiment includesa shelf tray on which a cultivation shelf is seated to be accessible toa cultivation space, a shelf base in which supplied water is stored, anda shutter configured to open and close a communication hole defined inthe shelf tray according to whether a seed package is mounted, whereinthe shutter is opened to supply the water of the shelf base to the seedpackage when the seed package is opened.

In an apparatus for cultivating plants according to an embodiment, acultivation shelf is disposed to be accessible to a cultivation space,and a plurality of seats that are partitioned so that a seed package isselectively seated is disposed on the cultivation shelf, wherein ashutter opened when the seed package is seated is provided on each ofthe plurality of seats to supply water to only the seat of the seats, onwhich the seed package is seated.

In an apparatus for cultivating plants according to an embodiment, acultivation shelf is disposed to be accessible to a cultivation space,and a seat on which a seed package is seated is disposed on thecultivation shelf, wherein a shutter opened by a weight of the seedpackage when the seed package is seated is provided on the bottom of theseat so that water is supplied to the seed package.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for cultivating plants includes: acabinet having a cultivation space; a temperature control deviceprovided in the cabinet to adjust a temperature of the cultivationspace; a door configured to open and close the cultivation space; acultivation shelf which is provided in the cabinet and on which a seedpackage containing plants to be cultivated is seated; a lighting deviceprovided in the cabinet to radiate light onto the cultivation shelf; anda water supply pipe provided in the cabinet to supply water to thecultivation shelf, wherein the cultivation shelf includes: a shelf trayprovided with a seat on which the seed package is seated; a shelf baseprovided under the shelf tray to accommodate the water supplied from thewater supply pipe; and a shutter provided to be openable on the seat,wherein the water accommodated into the shelf base is introduced to theinside of the seat by passing through the shutter when the shutter isopened.

The shutter may include: a pressing member protruding to the inside ofthe seat, the pressing member moving downward by the seed package whenthe seed package is mounted; a communication member which is providedunder the pressing member and in which a communication hole, throughwhich the water moves between the shelf base and the seat, is defined;and a shutter member coupled to the pressing member to move verticallytogether with the pressing member, the shutter member being configuredto open and close the communication hole.

The communication member may be mounted on a communication membermounting hole that passes through the shelf tray.

The pressing member may be supported by a spring, and in a state inwhich the seed package is not mounted, the communication hole may bemaintained in a closed state through the shutter member by the spring.

The shutter member may be disposed under the communication member, andwhen the water is filled in the shelf base, the shutter member may moveupward to maintain the closed state of the communication hole.

At least a portion of the shutter member may be made of a material thatis floated on water.

In a state in which the water is not filled in the shelf base, each ofthe shutter member and the pressing member may move downward by its ownweight to maintain an opened state of the communication hole.

A through-hole through which a boss portion configured to connect thepressing member to the shutter member passes may be defined in thecommunication member, and the communication hole may be arranged to berotatable around the through-hole.

A sealing member that is in contact with the communication member at theoutside rather than the communication hole may be provided on theshutter member, and the sealing member may be in close contact with thecommunication member when the shutter member moves upward to block theintroduction of the water.

A central portion of the communication member may further protrude, andthe communication hole may be opened along a circumferential portion ofthe communication member.

The pressing member may have a size greater than that of thecommunication member, and the communication hole may be opened tolateral and upper sides.

The seat may be provided in plurality, which are independently recessedfrom the shelf tray, a plurality of base seats recessed in a shapecorresponding to each of the seats to accommodate the seats may beprovided in the shelf base, and each of the base seats may be furtherrecessed than a bottom surface of the seat to accommodate water to besupplied.

A shutter accommodation portion into which the supplied water isintroduced and in which a downward movement space of the shutter whenthe shutter moves downward is defined may be recessed from the bottomsurface of the base seat.

A water supply portion to which the water is supplied from the watersupply pipe may be disposed at a rear end of the shelf base, and a basepassage configured to connect the water supply portion to the pluralityof base seats so that the water of the water supply portion may besupplied to the base seats is recessed from the shelf base.

A drain hole which is opened at a rear end of the shelf base connectedto the base passage and through which the water in the shelf base isdrained may be defined, and an opening/closing member configured to openand close the drain hole may be provided on the shelf base.

The opening/closing member may be coupled to the shelf base to open andclose the drain hole through rotation thereof, and a driving deviceconfigured to press the opening/closing member so that theopening/closing member rotates may be provided above the cultivationshelf.

The apparatus may further include: a water tank provided in the cabinetto store water to be supplied to the seed package; a pump providedbetween the water supply pipe and the water tank to supply the water ofthe water tank to the cultivation shelf; and a drain pipe provided inthe cabinet to guide the water drained from the cultivation shelf to thewater tank, wherein the water of the water tank and the cultivationshelf may be circulated to be supplied.

The water tank may include: a tank body mounted to be accessible to theinside of the cabinet and configured to define a space in which water isaccommodated; and a tank cover configured to open and close an openedtop surface of the tank body to additionally supply water or nutrient.

The pump may be driven so that water is supplied up to a set water levelhigher than a bottom surface of the seat.

A floater moving vertically according to a water level may be providedon the shelf base, a water level detection device configured to detect achange in magnetic field due to a magnet within the floater may beprovided at a lower side spaced apart from the cultivation shelf, andwhen it is determined that the water is supplied over a set water levelby the water level detection device, the driving of the pump may bestopped.

A drain portion which is disposed at a height between a bottom surfaceof the seat and an upper end of the shelf base and is opened to a lowerside of the shelf base to drain the water of the cultivation shelf maybe provided in the shelf base.

The cultivation shelf may be provided in plurality, which are disposedto be vertically spaced apart from each other, and each of the pump andthe water supply pipe may be provided in number corresponding to thenumber of cultivation shelves so that the water is independentlysupplied to each of the cultivation shelves.

The seed package may include: a container configured to communicate withthe seat and define an accommodation space into which the water isintroduced from the seat; a container cover configured to shield anopened top surface of the container; and a seed accommodation memberprovided in the accommodation space and made of an absorbent material tosupply the water to a seed accommodated therein, wherein a water inflowportion recessed to accommodate the shutter may be provided in a bottomsurface of the container, and a plurality of container openings throughwhich the water is introduced into the container may be defined aroundthe water inflow portion.

The shelf tray may be made of a stainless material.

The shelf base may be made of a plastic material.

The seat may be provided in plurality, which are independently recessedfrom the shelf tray, and one shutter may be provided for each of theplurality of seats, and the plurality of shutters may be disposed on thesame extension line.

The shutter may be disposed at a center of the seat, and a region inwhich the plants are cultivated in the seed package may be symmetricallydisposed with respect to the seat.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for cultivating plantsaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a door of theapparatus for cultivating plants is opened.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a seed package that is putinto the apparatus for cultivating plants.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for cultivatingplants.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure ofthe apparatus for cultivating plants.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a seed package that is put into theapparatus for cultivating plants.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway perspective view illustrating an internal structureof the apparatus for cultivating plants.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a cultivation shelf and watersupply and drain modules, each of which is one component of theapparatus for cultivating plants.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the water supply module and the drainmodule.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a flow state of water between thecultivation shelf and a water tank.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cultivation shelf.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the cultivation shelf.

FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view of a shelf base that is onecomponent of the cultivation shelf.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the shelf base.

FIG. 16 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XVI-XV1′ of FIG.12.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a state in which a water level in theshelf is detected by a floater of the cultivation shelf.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a state in which water overflows in across-section taken along line XVIII-XVIII′ of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a state of a water level in across-section taken along line XIX-XIX′ of FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XX-XX′ of FIG.12.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion A of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XXII-XXII′ ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a shutter that is one component of thecultivation shelf.

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in whichthe shutter is disassembled when viewed from an upper side.

FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in whichthe shutter is disassembled when viewed from a lower side.

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter when water is notsupplied to the cultivation shelf.

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter when water issupplied to the cultivation shelf.

FIG. 28 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter and a water supplystate in a state in which the seed package is seated on the cultivationshelf.

FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating a state of a shelf water supplyportion of the cultivation shelf when water is supplied.

FIG. 30 is a plan view illustrating a state of a shelf water supplyportion of the seed package when water is supplied.

FIG. 31 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter and a water drainstate in a state in which the seed package is seated on the cultivationshelf.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a cultivation shelf according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a plan view of a shelf base that is one component of thecultivation shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, detailed embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of thepresent disclosure is not limited to proposed embodiments of the presentinvention, and other regressive inventions or other embodiments includedin the scope of the spirits of the present disclosure may be easilyproposed through addition, change, deletion, and the like of otherelements.

A direction will be defined prior to the explanation. In an embodimentthat will be described below, a direction facing a front surface of adoor illustrated in FIG. 1 may be defined as a front direction unlessthe direction is separately defined, a direction facing the inside of acabinet with respect to the front surface of the door will be defined asa rear direction, a direction facing a bottom surface on which anapparatus for cultivating plants is installed will be defined as adownward direction, and a direction that is away from the bottom surfacewill be defined as an upward direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for cultivating plantsaccording to an embodiment. Also, FIG. 2 is a perspective viewillustrating a state in which a door of the apparatus for cultivatingplants is opened.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, an apparatus 1 for cultivatingplants according to an embodiment may be provided in a hexahedral shape.In addition, the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants may be installedalone in an indoor space or may have a size and structure that iscapable of being mounted in a built-in manner in furniture together withother electronic products if necessary. For example, the apparatus 1 forcultivating plants may have a relatively low height and may be installedto define a portion of an island table or a storage cabinet installed ona wall. Of course, unlike this embodiment, the apparatus 1 forcultivating plants may have a higher height in a vertical direction, andthree or more cultivation shelves 30 may be disposed vertically in theapparatus 1 for cultivating plants.

Also, the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants may be referred to as aplant cultivator or may be referred to as a plant cultivationrefrigerator because a temperature inside the apparatus 1 forcultivating plants is controlled to a temperature less than roomtemperature as necessary.

The apparatus 1 for cultivating plants may have an outer appearance thatis defined by a cabinet 10 defining a cultivation space, in which plantsare cultivated, and a door 13 that opens and close the cabinet 10. Here,the plants to be cultivated, such as leaves, herbs, etc. that arecapable of being used for wraps or salads, may be easily eat andcultivated by the user, and also, plants that occupy a large space maybe cultivated.

The cabinet 10 may define a cultivation space 100 with an opened frontsurface, and the door 13 that opens and closes the cultivation space 100may be provided in the front surface of the cabinet 10. The door 13 mayupper and lower ends, which are respectively connected to the cabinet 10by an upper hinge 136 a and a lower hinge 136 b, and the cultivationspace 100 may be opened and closed by rotation of the door 13.

Also, the door 13 may define an outer appearance of a front surface ofthe apparatus 1 for cultivating plants when the front surface is closed.A see-through portion 132 a through which the inside of the cultivationspace 100 is visibly recognized may be provided in the front surface ofthe door 13.

Also, the door 13 may include a front panel 132 and a rear panel 133,which define front and rear surfaces of the door 13, and a door frame131 defining a circumferential surface of the door 13.

Each of the front panel 132 and the rear panel 133 may be mad of amaterial capable of visibly recognizing the cultivation space 100. Forexample, each of the front panel 132 and the rear panel 133 may be madeof a tempered glass or insulating glass material. Also, an insulatingpanel 134 (see FIG. 6) may be further provided between the front panel132 and the rear panel 133, and a gas for thermal insulation may beinjected between the front panel 132 and the rear panel 133 by theinsulating panel 134, or a space between the front panel 132 and therear panel 133 by the insulating panel 134 may be vacuumized to improveinsulation performance of the door 13.

The door frame 131 may connect the front panel 132 to the rear panel 133and may define the circumferential surface of the door 13. Also, thefront surface of the door frame 131 may be completely covered by thefront panel 132, and the entire outer appearance of the front surface ofthe door 13 may be defined by the front panel 132 when viewed from afront side. Also, the upper hinge 136 a and the lower hinge 136 b may berespectively coupled to the upper and lower ends of the door frame 131.In addition, a gasket 135 may be provided along a circumference of therear surface of the door frame 131 so that the door 13 is in closecontact with the front surface of the cabinet 10 in a closed state.

A machine room module 20 may be provided below the cabinet 10.Components for controlling a temperature inside the cultivation space100 may be disposed in the machine room module 20, and the machine roommodule 20 may provide a space in which a plurality of electricalcomponents including a compressor 241 and a condenser 242 constituting arefrigeration cycle are provided. The machine room module 20 may becoupled to a bottom surface of the cabinet 10 in an assembled state todefine the integrated outer appearance of the cabinet 10 as a whole.Also, if necessary, the machine room module 20 may be disposed on aninner bottom surface of the cabinet 10.

Since the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants is installed in a built-inmanner, the machine room module 20 may have a structure in which air forcooling and heat dissipation inside the machine room 200 is introducedand discharged forward.

That is, a front cover 22 may be disposed on the front surface of themachine room 200. The front cover 22 may be exposed forward below thedoor 13 to define the front surface of the machine room 200. The frontcover 22 may have a shape of which a front surface protrudes and mayhave the same plane as the front surface of the door 13 when the door 13is closed.

A grill portion 221 in which a plurality of openings is defined may beprovided on the front cover 22. The grill portion 221 may be disposedover the entire front surface of the front cover 22. Also, air may beintroduced into the machine room 200, and the air inside the machineroom 200 may be discharged.

The cabinet 10 may be constituted by an outer case 11 defining an outerappearance thereof and an inner case 12 defining the cultivation space100, and an insulator 101 may be disposed between the outer case 11 andthe inner case 12 to thermally insulate the cultivation space 100. Thus,the cultivation space 100 may be maintained at a set temperature.

Each of the outer case 11 and the inner case 12 may be made of a metalmaterial and may be provided by coupling a plurality of plate-shapedmaterials to each other. Particularly, the inner case 12 may have bothside surfaces, a rear surface, and a top surface, each of which isprovided in a metal plate shape, and may be coupled to each other todefine the cultivation space 100.

A plurality of cultivation shelves 30 may be arranged vertically in thecabinet 10. In this embodiment, two upper and lower cultivation shelves30 may be provided and may have the same structure. The cultivationshelves 30 may be respectively referred to as an upper cultivation shelf30 a and a lower cultivation shelf 30 b for convenience of explanationand understanding. Alternatively, two or more cultivation shelves 30 maybe further provided according to a size of the cabinet 10. Also, thecultivation shelf 30 may be configured to be inserted into and withdrawnfrom the inside of the cabinet 10 in a front and rear direction, andmounting of the seed package 90 including seeds of plants forcultivation and management and harvest of the plants may be easy.

The cultivation shelf 30 may have a structure in which a plurality ofseed packages 90 are mounted. Also, the cultivation shelf 30 may have astructure in which a plurality of the seed packages 90 are disposed inindependent regions, respectively, so that the cultivation and harvestof the plants are possible.

For example, a plurality of seats 320 recessed in a shape correspondingto the seed package 90 may be disposed on the top surface of thecultivation shelf 30, and the seed package 90 desired by the user may beseated on the seat 320 to cultivate the plants.

Also, water may be supplied to the cultivation shelf 30 from the watertank 70, and the water supplied to the cultivation shelf 30 may beselectively supplied from the seat 320, on which the seed package 90 isdisposed, of the plurality of seats 320 to the seed package 90.

Also, the water supplied to the cultivation shelf 30 may be completelydrained after being sufficiently supplied to the seed package 90. Thus,the cultivation shelf 30 may be emptied for the rest of a time excludinga water supply time so as to be maintained in a clean state.

The water tank 70 may be disposed further below the cultivation shelf 30and may be disposed at the lowermost side of the cultivation space 100.The water tank 70 may store water supplied to the cultivation shelf 30,and the water discharged from the cultivation shelf 30 may be collected.That is, a water supply module and a drain module may be providedbetween the water tank 70 and the cultivation shelf 30 so that water iscirculated.

The water tank 70 may be exposed when the door 13 is opened so that awater level of the water tank 70 is checked from the outside. Also, thewater tank 70 may be exposed to the front surface of the cultivationspace 100 and be withdrawn out to supplement water. If necessary,nutrients required for growing plants may be put into the water tank 70.For example, the nutrients may be provided in a solidified form and thusmay be gradually dissolved in water for a predetermined time and thensupplied to the seed package 90 while maintaining an appropriateconcentration of water in the water tank. Therefore, the water suppliedfrom the water tank 70 may be a culture solution containing nutrients.

Also, a lighting device 40 for radiating light toward the top surface ofthe cultivation shelf 30 may be provided above the cultivation shelf 30.Also, a blower 50 for circulating internal air in the cultivation space100 may be provided on the rear wall of the cultivation space 100.

A display 14 may be provided in the cultivation space 100. The display14 may be configured to display an operating state of the apparatus 1for cultivating plants and be provided at the front end of the lightingdevice 40, which is disposed at a lower side, of the plurality oflighting devices 40. Thus, the display 14 may be disposed at a positionfacing the rear surface of the door 13. Also, information output fromthe display 14 may be recognized through the door 13 and be identifiedat the outside even when the door 13 is closed.

The seed package 90 may be selected by a user, and the user may selectand purchase a desired type of crop through aftermarkets. Also, the seedpackage 90 may be supplied in the form of delivery according to a user'sorder or may be supplied regularly by a manager. If necessary, the usermay directly place and use seeds for cultivation in the seed package 90provided.

The seed package 90 may be supplied not only in a shape accommodated inthe seed, but also in a state in which the seed is germinated andsprouted, or a state in which a plant after a certain time elapses afterthe germination is disposed.

The user may cultivate the seed package 90, in which the desired crop iscontained, by seating the seed package 90 on the cultivation shelf 30,and also may cultivate a different type of plant by placing differenttypes of seed packages 90 on one cultivation shelf 30. Also, when thecultivation is completed or when replacement with another crop isdesired, the seed package 90 may be removed or replaced from the seat320.

Hereinafter, the structure of the seed package 90 will be described inmore detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the seed package that is putinto the apparatus for cultivating plants. Also, FIG. 4 is a cutawayperspective view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the seed package 90 may include acontainer 91 that defines a recessed accommodation space 900, acontainer cover 92 that shields an opened top surface of the container91, and a plurality of seed accommodation members 93 provided in theaccommodation space 900 to accommodate seeds.

In detail, the container 91 has a circumferential surface 914 extendingupward along a circumference of a flat container bottom surface 911 anda container edge 913 bent outward from an upper end of the containercircumferential surface 914.

The container bottom surface 911 may have a size corresponding to thatof the seat 320, and thus, the container bottom surface 911 may besupported by a seat bottom surface 322. Also, the containercircumferential surface 914 has a height greater than a depth of theseat 320 so that the container cover 92 shielding the container 91 isdisposed above the top surface of the cultivation shelf 30.

A water inlet 912 may be provided on the bottom surface 911 of thecontainer. The water inlet 912 may be recessed from the bottom surfaceof the container 91 to protrude from the container bottom surface 911when viewed from the inner surface. The water inlet 912 may be providedat a center of the container 91 and be disposed at a positioncorresponding to the shutter 33. Therefore, when the seed package 90 isseated on the seat 320, the shutter 33 may be accommodated inside theseat 320, and water may be supplied into the seed package 90.

In detail, the water inlet 912 may include an inlet top surface 912 adisposed above the container bottom surface 911 and an inletcircumferential surface 912 b extending along a circumference of theinlet top surface 912 a to extend up to the container bottom surface911. A plurality of container openings 912 c may be defined along theinlet circumferential surface 912 b.

The inlet circumferential surface 912 b may be inclined toward theoutside as it extends downward. Also, the inlet circumferential surface912 b may have a height at which the inlet top surface 912 a is capableof pressing the shutter 33 to open the shutter 33 when the seed packageis seated on the seat 320.

The container cover 92 may include a plate-shaped cover plate 921 thatshields the opened top surface of the container 91. Also, anaccommodation member mounting portion 923 to which the seedaccommodation member 93 is fixedly mounted may be disposed on a bottomsurface of the cover plate 921. The accommodation member mountingportion 923 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of thecontainer cover 92, and an opened insertion hole 923 a may be defined ina lower end of the accommodation member mounting portion 923 so that anupper end of the seed accommodation member 93 is inserted. That is, thecross-sectional shape of the insertion hole 923 a may correspond to ashape of a top surface of the seed accommodation member 93.

The seed accommodation member 93 may be provided in plurality, and theplurality of the seed accommodation members 93 may be disposed to bespaced apart from each other in the accommodation space 900 of thecontainer 91. The seed accommodation member 93 may accommodate seeds 932of plants to be cultivated and may absorb water supplied into the seedpackage 90 to supply the water to the seeds.

The seed accommodating member 93 may have a porous material or a networkstructure to facilitate the water absorption, and the water absorbedfrom the bottom by a capillary phenomenon may be transferred to theseeds. The seed accommodation member 93 may be made of various materialscapable of absorbing moisture and maintaining a shape. For example, theseed accommodation member 93 may be made of a sponge material such as anoasis.

The cross-sectional shape of the seed accommodation member 93 may have ashape corresponding to the shape of the accommodation member mountingportion 923. The seed accommodation member 93 may be provided in ahexahedral shape and have an upper end inserted into the accommodationmember mounting portion 923 and a lower end configured to be supportedby the bottom surface 911 of the container.

Also, an accommodation groove 931 recessed downward may be defined inthe top surface of the seed accommodation member 93. The seeds 932 maybe accommodated inside the accommodation groove 931, and a recessedlower end of the accommodation groove may be defined at one side that isaway from the container bottom surface 911. The accommodation groove 931may be recessed downward, but may be defined higher than a maximum levelof the water accommodated in the container 91. Thus, the seeds insidethe accommodation groove 931 may be prevented from being immersed inwater. Also, when the seeds 932 are germinated, the plants may be grownalong the accommodation groove 931, and roots may be grown to passthrough the seed accommodation member 93.

That is, soil or medium containing nutrients may not be accommodated inthe container 91, and only water containing nutrients may be suppliedinto the seed package 90 after the seed package 90 is mounted on thecultivation shelf. Thus, the inside of the seed package 90 may beprevented from being contaminated by mold or green algae.

Also, the inside of the seed package 90 may be maintained in a state inwhich water does not exist in the seed package 90 by draining the waterthrough the cultivation shelf 30. Thus, contamination does not occur inthe seed package 90 and the cultivation shelf 30.

As described above, components such as medium or soil for supplying thenutrients may not be filled inside the seed package 90. Also, the seedaccommodation members 93 may be spaced apart from each other in thecontainer 91 so that a corresponding portion of the accommodation space900 in the container 91 is empty. Thus, both a flow of water suppliedinto the inside of the container and a flow of the water discharged fromthe inside of the container 91 may be smoothly performed.

Also, a shielding member 96 may be provided on the water inlet 912. Theshielding member 96 may be made of a material such as fabric or paper ormay be made of a net material such as mesh to allow the water to passtherethrough. The shielding member 96 may be provided to cover the waterinlet 912, thereby preventing the root of the plant growing through theseed accommodation member 93 from blocking the water container opening912 c.

A cover hole 924 may be defined in the container cover 92 correspondingto the accommodation groove 931. The cover hole 924 may be disposedinside the accommodation member mounting portion 923, and theaccommodation groove 931 and the cover hole 924 may communicate witheach other. Thus, a stem germinated from the seed may pass through thecover hole 924 via the accommodation groove 931 and then be exposed tothe outside of the container cover 92.

The container 91 may be divided into both sides based on the water inlet912, and different crops may be cultivated at both sides. Both the sidesof the water inlet 912 may have a symmetrical shape, and the seedaccommodation member 93 may also have a symmetrical arrangement.

Also, the container cover 92 may be divided into both sides based on acenter thereof and may have a shape in which both the sides aresymmetrical with respect to the center of the container cover 92. Thus,when viewed from above, it is possible to confirm that the seed package90 is divided into two areas.

A cover edge 922 may be disposed along a circumference of the coverplate 921 of the container cover 92, and the cover edge 922 may be incontact with the container edge 913 to couple the container cover 92 tothe container 91. Also, the container cover 92 may also be divided intotwo areas based on the center, and the cover edge 922 may extend alongthe two areas divided by the container 91. Thus, the container cover 92may define a space that is partitioned into both the sides by the coveredge 922.

A reflective sheet 94 may be attached to the top surface of thecontainer cover 92. The reflective sheet 94 may be provided in the formof a sheet capable of reflecting light radiated from the lighting device40, and the seed package 90 may be prevented from increasing intemperature through the reflection of the light. Also, a sheet hole 941which is cut or penetrated at a position corresponding to the cover hole924 may be defined in the reflective sheet 94. Thus, the stem from whichthe seed is germinated may be exposed to the outside through thecontainer cover 92 and the sheet hole 941.

Also, the cover sheet 95 may be attached to the top surface of thecontainer cover 92. The cover sheet 95 may be disposed above thereflective sheet 94 and be attached to the cover edge 922 or adhere tothe reflective sheet 94.

The cover sheet 95 may seal the top surface of the container cover 92when packaging and transporting the container 91 to prevent the seedpackage 90 from being damaged, prevent the seeds accommodated in theseed package 90 from being discharged to the outside, prevent the insideof the seed package 90 from being contaminated due to the introductionof the external contaminants.

Also, the type of crops to be cultivated and related cultivationinformation may be printed on the cover sheet 95. Thus, the user mayacquire information necessary for cultivation of the plant by using theinformation displayed on the cover sheet 95. For example, theinformation may be displayed in a manner such as a barcode or QR-code,and the information may be obtained through a mobile phone or a readerof the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants itself.

To cultivate the plants using the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants,the cover sheet 95 of the seed package 90 may be removed, and the seedpackage 90 may be seated on the seat 320 of the cultivation shelf 30.Also, an operation of the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants may be setusing the information on the cover sheet 95, and the operation of theapparatus 1 for cultivating plants may be controlled according to thesetting.

The seed package 90 may be disposed so that both sides thereof aresymmetrical with respect to the center thereof. Thus, it is possible tocultivate different types of crops at both the sides of the seed package90 based on the water inlet 912. That is, it is possible to cultivatedifferent types of crops within one seed package 90.

Also, in the state in which the seed package 90 is seated on thecultivation shelf 30, the shutter 33 may be disposed at the center ofthe seed package 90. That is, the accommodation space 900 may bedisposed on both the sides of the seed package 90 with respect to theshutter 33. Thus, areas on which plants are grown on the seed package 90may be disposed on both sides of the shutter 33. Due to this structure,water may be uniformly supplied to both the sides of the seed package 90through one shutter 33.

Also, since the shutter 33 is disposed at a position corresponding tothe center of the seed package 90, the seed package 90 may be mounted ina desired direction regardless of the mounted direction of the seedpackage 90, and when seated, water may be uniformly supplied tocultivation areas at both the sides thereof.

Also, the container cover 92 may also be divided into both sides basedon the center and be provided in a symmetrical shape. Also, the coversheet 95 may be provided in two and be attached to both the sides of thecontainer cover 92, respectively. Therefore, the user may check thecrops grown by using the cover sheet 95.

Hereinafter, the internal structure of the apparatus 1 for cultivatingplants will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for cultivatingplants. Also, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internalstructure of the apparatus for cultivating plants.

As illustrated in the drawings, an evaporator 243 that generates coolair may be provided on a rear wall of the cultivation space 100, and ablower 50 may be provided in front of the evaporator 243. Thus, airwithin the cultivation space 100 may be circulated by an operation ofthe blower 50, and thus, the inside of the cultivation space 100 may bemaintained to a set temperature.

In detail, the internal temperature of the cultivation space 100 may becontrolled by a refrigeration cycle. Here, the evaporator 243 may bedisposed on an inner rear wall of the cultivation space 100. Theevaporator 243 may be provided with a roll bond-type heat exchanger andmay be referred to as a heat exchanger. The evaporator 243 may have aplate-shaped structure that is easily attached to the rear wall of thecultivation space 100. Also, the evaporator 243 may minimize a loss ofthe cultivation space 100 due to the plate-like structure and also maybe close to the cultivation space 100 to effectively control atemperature of the cultivation space 100.

A heater 19 may be provided on one wall surface of the cultivation space100. Thus, heating and cooling of the cultivation space 100 may beperformed. The inside of the cultivation space 100 may be maintained toa temperature that is suitable for the growth of plants (e.g., about 18°C. to about −28° C.) by the evaporator 243 and the heater 19. Ifnecessary, a configuration for heating other than the heater 19 may beprovided, and various heating methods such as the heating structureusing a hot gas through a direction change of the refrigeration cyclemay be performed. The temperature inside the cultivation space 100 maybe sensed by an internal temperature sensor and may be maintained to atemperature that is suitable for crops to be cultivated.

As described above, components including the evaporator 243, thecompressor 241, and the condenser 242, which are configured to controlthe temperature of the cultivation space 100, may be referred to as atemperature control device. The temperature control device may furtherinclude the heater 19.

The inside of the cultivation space may be divided into an upper space,in which an upper blower 50 a is disposed, and a lower space, in which alower blower 50 b is disposed. Here, the inside of the cultivation spacemay be dived by the cultivation shelf 30. The blowers 50 that arevertically disposed have the same structure and shape, but onlydifferent from each other in their mounted positions. That is, theblower 50 may be provided as many as the number corresponding to thenumber of the cultivation shelves 30 and may blow air forward from arear side of the cultivation shelf 30. Thus, the air may beindependently circulated in the spaces inside the cultivation space 100by being partitioned by the cultivation shelf 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the air inside the cultivation space 100 maybe circulated by the blower 50, and in particular, the circulated airmay pass through the rear wall surface of the evaporator 243, and thus,the entire inside of the cultivation space 100 may have a uniformtemperature and be quickly controlled in temperature. Also, the aircirculated by the blower 50 may flow while passing through the topsurface of the cultivation shelf 30 and the bottom surface of thelighting device 40.

The air flowing by the blower 50 may pass through the top surface of thecultivation shelf 30 to allow respiration of the plants grown on thecultivation shelf 30 to be smoother and also allows the plants to beproperly shaken, thereby controlling stress so that an optimum airflowrequired for growth is provided. Also, the air flowing by the blower 50may pass through the bottom surface of the lighting device 40 to preventthe lighting device 40 from being overheated.

The blower 50 as a whole may include a blowing guide 51 mounted in frontof the evaporator 243, a blowing fan 52 mounted on the blowing guide 51,and a cover plate 53 covering the blowing guide 51.

The blowing fan 52 may be mounted at a center of the blowing guide 51,and when the blowing fan 52 is driven, air may flow smoothly from thebottom to the top. Also, a lower end of the blowing guide 51 may bespaced apart from the top surface of the cultivation shelf 30, and anupper end of the blowing guide 51 may be spaced apart from a bottomsurface of the lighting device 40. Thus, when the blower fan 52 isdriven, the blowing guide 51 may guide air so that the air is suctionedalong the top surface of the cultivation shelf 30 and discharged alongthe bottom surface of the lighting device 40.

Also, a deodorizing member 54 may be provided on a lower end of theblowing guide 51. The deodorizing member 54 may be provided as a filtermade of a deodorant material or may be made of a porous material throughwhich air passes. In addition, the deodorizing member 54 may be providedon a path through which air is suctioned to remove and collect odorgenerating factors in the air of the cultivation space 100. An odor maynot be generated in the cultivation space 100 by the deodorizing member54, and a continuous deodorizing action may be achieved when the blower50 is driven.

The blowing fan 52 may be provided in a box fan shape and may beconfigured to blow the cooled or heated rear air forward through theevaporator 243.

Also, the cover plate 53 may be disposed in front of the blowing guide51 to shield the blowing guide 51, thereby preventing the blowing guide51 from being exposed to the outside. The cover plate 53 may be coupledto the blowing guide 51, and the upper and lower ends of the cover plate53 may be spaced apart from the lighting device 40 and the cultivationshelf 30, respectively, to provide an air inlet and an air outlet.

The cover plate 53 may define an inner surface of the cultivation space100 exposed when the door 13 is opened. Also, an additional sub-plate 15may be further provided at the rear side of the cultivation shelf 30 toprevent the evaporator 243 from being exposed when the cultivation shelf30 is withdrawn.

The lighting device 40 may be provided above the cultivation shelf 30.The lighting device 40 may radiate light toward the cultivation shelf 30to provide light that is necessary for plants. Here, an amount of lightradiated by the lighting device 40 may be set similar to sunlight, andan amount of light and a radiation time optimized for the plant to begrown may be set.

The lighting device 40 may be provided in number corresponding to thenumber of cultivation shelves 30 and may be provided above eachcultivation shelf 30. For example, the lighting device 40 may include anupper lighting device 40 a provided in an upper space partitioned by thecultivation shelf 30 and a lower lighting device 40 b provided in alower space partitioned by the cultivation shelf 30. The upper lightingdevice 40 a may be mounted on the top surface of the cultivation space100, and the lower lighting device 40 b may be mounted on the bottomsurface of the upper cultivation shelf 30 a.

That is, the upper lighting device 40 a and the lower lighting device 40b may be disposed vertically above the cultivation shelf 30, which aredisposed therebelow, to radiate light toward the cultivation shelf 30,thereby controlling the growth of the cultivated plants.

The lighting device 40 may include an LED module 42 including aplurality of LEDs 421 (see FIG. 17), a light case 41 on which the LEDmodule 42 is mounted, and a light cover 43 which shields the LED module42 and through which light is transmitted. The plurality of LEDs 421 maybe provided so as to provide a sufficient amount of light to thecultivation shelf 30 and may be widely distributed above the cultivationshelf 30. The LED module 42 may be configured in a state in which theplurality of LEDs 421 are mounted on a substrate, and the plurality ofLED modules 42 including the plurality of LEDs 421 may be disposed.

Also, the plurality of LEDs 421 may be disposed to provide a uniformamount of light to the entire top surface of the cultivation space 100in consideration of the reflection from the inside of the cultivationspace 100. Therefore, intervals between the LEDs 421 may not be all thesame.

Also, the plurality of LEDs 421 may be shielded by the light cover 43,and the light radiated from the LEDs 421 may be diffused in a process ofpassing through the light cover 43. As a result, the lighting device 40may emit light in the form of surface plate, and bright spots such aslight condensation at a portion corresponding to the LEDs 21 may beprevented from occurring.

The water tank 70 may be provided on a bottom surface inside the cabinet10. The water tank 70 may store water supplied to the cultivation shelf30 and water collected from the cultivation shelf 30. The water tank 70may be disposed below the cultivation shelf 30, which is disposed at thelowermost side, among the plurality of the cultivation shelves 30 andmay be disposed in front of a position corresponding to the front end ofthe cultivation shelf 30.

A length of the water tank 70 in a horizontal direction may correspondto a width of the inner space of the cabinet 10. Also, a length of thewater tank 70 in a vertical direction may correspond to a distancebetween the cultivation shelf 30, which is disposed at the lowermostside, and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 100. That is, thewater tank 70 may be provided to fill an entire space below the lowercultivation shelf 40 b disposed at the lowermost side, and a spacebehind the water tank 70 may be covered by the water tank 70.

A pump cover 81 may be provided in the rear space covered by the watertank 70. A pump 83 supplying water of the water tank 70 to thecultivation shelf and a sub tank provided between the water tank 70 andthe pump 83 may be further provided in the pump cover 81.

The pump 83 may be configured to supply water to the cultivation shelf30 and be connected to an outlet of the sub tank 82. Also, the pump 83may be provided as many as the number corresponding to the cultivationshelf 30. That is, the pump 83 may include an upper pump 83 a supplyingwater to the upper cultivation shelf 30 a and a lower pump 83 bsupplying water to the lower cultivation shelf 30 b. Also, the upperpump 83 a and the lower pump 83 b may be connected to water supply pipes84 that are directed to the upper cultivation shelf 30 a and the lowercultivation shelf 30 b to independently supply water to the uppercultivation shelf 30 a and the lower cultivation shelf 30 b,respectively.

Alternatively, only one pump 83 may be provided. In this case, the pump83 may be connected to a switching valve so that the water dischargedfrom the pump 83 is selectively supplied to the upper cultivation shelf30 a and the lower cultivation shelf 30 b.

The sub tank 82 may be disposed at a side of the pump 83 to connect thewater tank 70 to the pump 83. The sub tank 82 may be disposed on a paththrough which water of the water tank 70 is supplied to the pump 83 andmay be always maintained at a constant water level. Thus, an accurateoperation of the pump 83 may be ensured, and a quantity of water may besupplied to the cultivation shelf 30.

The water tank 70 may be disposed to be able to be withdrawn andinserted, and thus, the water tank 70 and the sub tank 82 may beseparated from each other when the water tank 70 is withdrawn. In astate in which the water tank 70 is completely mounted, the water tank70 and the sub tank 82 may be connected to each other to supply water.

Also, although not shown, a water supply module supplying water to thecultivation shelf 30 and a drain module draining the water of thecultivation shelf 30 to the water tank 70 may be disposed at both leftand right surfaces of the cabinet 10. The water circulation between thewater tank 70 and the cultivation shelf 30 may be possible by the watersupply module and the drain module.

The water tank 70 may be provided inside the cultivation space 100 so asto be accessible in the front and rear directions. Also, the water tank70 may include a tank body 71 defining a space in which water is storedand a tank cover 72 that opens and closes a top surface of the tank body71. Thus, the water tank 70 may have a structure in which the water tank70 is opened in the withdrawn state to allow additional water supply.

Also, nutrients required for the plant cultivation may be supplied tothe water tank 70 by opening the tank cover 72, and thus, the nutrientstogether with water may be supplied to the cultivation shelf 30.Therefore, even if the seed package 90 itself does not contain thenutrients, the nutrients may be effectively supplied to the seeds. Thus,the water circulated between the water tank 70 and the cultivation shelf30 may be water that is in a state containing the nutrients and thus maybe referred to as a nutrient solution or a culture solution.

The display 14 may be provided on the front surface of the cultivationspace 100. The display 14 may be provided with a manipulation portionthrough which a user's manipulation is input to set or input an overalloperation of the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants.

A machine room module 20 may be provided below the cabinet 10. Themachine room module 20 may be coupled to the bottom surface of thecabinet 10, and components including the compressor 241 and thecondenser 242 constituting the refrigeration cycle may be disposedtherein.

The machine room module 20 may be coupled to the cabinet 10 in a statein which the compressor 241 and the condenser 242 are installed therein.Also, in a state in which the machine room module 20 and the cabinet 10are coupled to each other, a pipe connecting the evaporator 243 to thecompressor 241, which are provided inside the cabinet 10, may beconnected to each other to allow the refrigeration cycle to operate.

Hereinafter, the structure of the machine room 200 will be described inmore detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seed package that is put into theapparatus for cultivating plants.

As illustrated in the drawings, the machine room module 20 may bemounted on the bottom surface of the cabinet 10 to define a space of themachine room 200, which is independent from the cultivation space 100under the cabinet 10. The machine room module 20 may be constituted by amachine room lower plate 211 defining a bottom surface, a pair ofmachine room side plates 212 defining both side surfaces, and a machineroom rear plate 213 defining a rear surface.

The machine room lower plate 211, the machine room side plate 212, andthe machine room rear plate 213 may be coupled to each other toconstitute a single module, which may be referred to as a machine roomframe. A space defined by the machine room frame may be defined so thata top surface and a front surface thereof are opened. Thus, the machineroom frame may be coupled to the bottom surface of the cabinet 10 todefine the machine room 200 under the cabinet 10. That is, the bottomsurface of the cabinet 10 and the top surface of the machine room 200may be shared.

The inside of the machine room module 20 may be partitioned by a barrier231. The barrier 231 may extend backward from the opened front end ofthe machine room module 20. The condenser 242 may be provided in a leftspace partitioned by the barrier 231, and a compressor 241 may beprovided in a right space partitioned by the barrier 231. Also, a heatdissipation fan 233 for forcibly flowing air from the left side to theright side may be provided on a rear end of the barrier 231.

A front cover 22 may be provided on the opened front surface of themachine room module 20. The front cover 22 may shield the opened frontsurface of the machine room module 20, and a grill portion 221 may bedisposed on the front surface of the front cover 22. The grill portion221 may define an opening, through which air is injected and discharged,such as a grill.

Thus, when the heat dissipation fan 233 is driven, external air may besuctioned to flow to the left space of the machine room module 20through a left side of the grill portion 221, and the suctioned air maypass through the condenser 242 and then be heat-exchanged with arefrigerant in the condenser 242 to dissipate heat of the condenser 242.Also, the air passing through the heat dissipation fan 233 may cool thecompressor 241 while passing through the compressor 241. Also, the airpassing through the compressor 241 may be discharged forward through theright side of the grill portion 221.

That is, while the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants is installed,external air may be suctioned, and the air inside the machine roommodule 20 may be discharged at the front side while passing through thefront cover 22. Thus, the apparatus 1 for cultivating plants may beinstalled in a space in which both the left and right sides and the rearsurface are blocked. Particularly, even if the apparatus 1 forcultivating plants is installed in a furniture such as a sink, thecooling and heat exchange of the compressor 241 and the condenser 242 inthe machine room module 20 may be effectively performed.

The evaporator 243 constituting the refrigeration cycle may be providedinside the cabinet 10 and also be disposed vertically on the rearsurface of the cultivation space 100 so as to be easily connected to thecomponents inside the machine room module 20 by a refrigerant pipe.

A condensed water receiver 232 from which condensed water generated inthe evaporator 243 or defrosting water generated during defrosting isdischarged may be provided in the machine room module 20. Also, at leasta portion of the condenser may be disposed inside the condensed waterreceiver 232, or the refrigerant pipe connected to the condenser 242 maybe disposed inside the condensed water receiver 232 to evaporate waterinside the condensed water receiver 232.

Hereinafter, the internal structure of the cabinet 10 will be describedin more detail with reference to the drawings.

Also, FIG. 8 is a cutaway perspective view illustrating the internalstructure of the apparatus for cultivating plants.

As illustrated in the drawing, the cabinet 10 may define the cultivationspace 100 by an inner case 12.

The inner case 12 may include a bottom plate 121 defining a bottomsurface of the cultivation space 100, a pair of side plates 122 definingleft and right surfaces of the cultivation space 100, a top plate 123defining a top surface of the cultivation space 100, and a back plate124 defining a rear surface of the cultivation space 100.

The inner case 12 may be provided by at least one or more metal plates,for example, the inner case 12 may be made of an aluminum material. Theinner case 12 may be provided by coupling the bottom plate 121, the sideplate 122, the top plate 123, and the back plate 124 to each other.

The bottom plate 121 may define the bottom surface of the cultivationspace 100 and have a shape of which a rear portion is stepped with ahigher height. The rear portion of the bottom plate 121, which has arelatively high height, may be a portion corresponding to an arrangementposition of the compressor 241 to secure an installation space of thecompressor 241 inside the machine room 200.

Also, the sub tank 82 and the pump 83 may be disposed in the first halfof the bottom plate 121 having the relatively low height and may beshielded by the pump cover 81. A ventilation fan 171 may be provided ina space inside the pump cover 81, and an exhaust duct 172 through whicha bottom surface of the cultivation space 100 and the machine room 200communicate with each other may be provided under the ventilation fan171. Thus, air inside the cultivation space 100 may be exhausted to themachine room 200, and external air may be introduced into an inletprovided in the other wall of the cabinet 10 to supply carbon dioxiderequired for the plant growth.

The water tank 70 may be disposed in front of the pump cover 81. Thewater tank 70 may be disposed to be accessible inside the cultivationspace 100. For this, a tank rail 79 for the accessible water tank 70 maybe provided on each of both sides of the side plate 122. The tank rail79 may have a structure extending in multiple stages, and when the watertank 70 is completely withdrawn, the tank cover 72 may be withdrawn by adistance at which the tank cover 72 is capable of being opened andclosed. Also, when the water tank 70 is completely inserted, the watertank 70 may be connected to the sub tank 82 and the drain module.

A water supply pipe guide portion 122 a may be disposed on the sideplate 122 at the right side of the side plate 122. The water supply pipeguide portion 122 a may be configured to guide the water supply pipe 84that is directed to the cultivation shelf 30 and may be provided to berecessed so that the water supply pipe 84 is accommodated.

The water supply pipe guide portion 122 a may extend backward along alower end of the side plate 122 and may extend upward from a rear end ofthe side plate 122. Also, a guide portion cover 122 b may be disposed onthe water supply pipe guide portion 122 a to shield a portion of anopened front surface of the water supply pipe guide portion 122 a. Theguide portion cover 122 b may be configured to shield the water supplypipe guide portion 122 a extending in the vertical direction along therear end of the side plate 122, and the water supply pipe 84accommodated therein may not be exposed to the outside.

Also, a water supply pipe fixing portion may be further disposed on theguide portion cover 122 b. The water supply pipe fixing portion may fixan end of the water supply pipe 84 through which water is discharged soas to be disposed on the water supply portion 316 of each of the upperand lower cultivation shelves 30 a and 30 b. Thus, the position of theoutlet of the water supply pipe 84 may be fixed, and water may besupplied to the cultivation shelf 30 at an accurate position.

The water supply pipe 84 may have a metal tubular shape and include anupper water supply pipe 84 a, which is connected to the upper pump 83 ato supply water to the upper cultivation shelf 30 a, and a lower watersupply pipe 84 b, which is the lower pump 83 b to supply water to thelower cultivation shelf 30 b.

The sub tank 82, the pump 83, and the water supply pipe 84, which aredisposed to supply water to the cultivation shelf 30, may be referred toas a water supply module, and the water supply module may be provided inthe inner space and the sidewall of the cultivation space 100 so as notto be exposed to the outside in a normally used state.

Particularly, the water supply pipe 84 may be in a state of beingaccommodated in the water supply pipe guide portion 122 a disposed onthe side surface of the cultivation space 100 and may not be exposed tothe outside by the guide portion cover 122 b. Also, an end of the watersupply pipe 84 adjacent to the cultivation shelf 30 may be covered bythe cover plate 53 of the blower 50.

Also, a drain module may be disposed at the other side facing one sideof the cultivation space 100 in which the water supply module isdisposed. That is, the water supply module and the drain module may bedisposed on both left and right sides based on the cultivation shelf 30,respectively.

The evaporator 243 may be mounted on the back plate 124. The evaporator243 may be provided in a plate shape and may be disposed to occupy mostof the rear wall surface of the cultivation space 100. Also, the blower50 may be provided in front of the evaporator 243.

Also, the lighting device 40 may be provided on the bottom surface ofthe top plate 123. The upper lighting device 40 a disposed at theuppermost side of the lighting device 40 may be fixedly mounted on thebottom surface of the top plate 123. Also, the lower lighting device 40b may be disposed below the upper cultivation shelf 30 a.

The cultivation shelf 30 may be disposed so as to be accessible to theside plates 122 disposed at both sides thereof. The side plate 122 maybe provided with a shelf rail 16 extending in multiple stages, and eachof both side surfaces of the cultivation shelf 30 may be coupled to theshelf rail 16. Thus, the cultivation shelf 30 may be accessible in thefront and rear direction, and thus, it is easy to harvest and manage theplants grown on the cultivation shelf 30, and it is easy to install andremove the seed package 90.

Hereinafter, the arrangement of the cultivation shelf 30 and the watersupply module and the drain module will be described in more detail withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the cultivation shelf and thewater supply and drain modules, each of which is one component of theapparatus for cultivating plants. Also, FIG. 10 is a perspective view ofthe water supply module and the drain module. Also, FIG. 11 is a viewillustrating a flow state of water between the cultivation shelf and thewater tank.

As illustrated in the drawings, the plurality of cultivation shelves 30may be arranged vertically. For example, the cultivation shelf 30 mayinclude an upper cultivation shelf 30 a disposed at an upper side and alower cultivation shelf 30 b disposed at a lower side. The uppercultivation shelf 30 a may be referred to as a first cultivation shelf,and the lower cultivation shelf 30 b may be referred to as a secondcultivation shelf.

The upper cultivation shelf 30 a and the lower cultivation shelf 30 bmay be spaced a set interval from each other, and a space above theupper cultivation shelf 30 a and a space above the lower cultivationshelf 30 b may be spaced apart from each other to secure a sufficientheight at which so that plants are capable of being grown.

Also, the water supply module and the drain module, which arerespectively disposed on both left and right sides of the cultivationshelf 30, may be connected to the water tank 70. Thus, as water iscirculated between the water tank 70 and the cultivation shelf 30, theseed package 90 may be supplied with an appropriate amount of water andnutrients in time.

The water supply module may be disposed at the right side of thecultivation shelf 30 on which the water supply portion 316 is disposed.Also, the water supply module may include the pump 83 and the watersupply pipe 84. The pump 83 and the water supply pipe 84 may beconfigured to provide independent water supply to the upper cultivationshelf 30 a and the lower cultivation shelf 30 b. For example, the pump83 may include an upper pump 83 a and a lower pump 83 b, and the watersupply pipe 84 may include an upper water supply pipe 84 a and a lowerwater supply pipe 84 b.

The pump 83 may adjust an amount of water supplied to the cultivationshelf 30 through control, and thus, a quantity of water may be supplied.For example, the pump 83 may operate 8 times per day, that is, at a timeperiod of about 3 hours. Thus, when water is supplied once, about 1liter of water may be supplied. Here, an amount of water supplied may becontrolled through a driving time of the pump 83. If necessary, thewater supply module may include a flow sensor, and as a flow rate issensed through the flow sensor, the pump 83 may be driven to becontrolled to provide a quantitative water supply.

At least a portion of the water supply pipe 84 may be provided as ametal pipe. Particularly, an end of the outlet-side water supply pipe 84adjacent to the cultivation space 100 may be bent to be maintained inits position and shape. Thus, when water is supplied to the cultivationshelf 30, an accurate water supply position may be maintained to preventthe water from leaking or splashing outside the cultivation shelf 30.

An end of the water supply pipe 84 may extend toward the water supplyportion 316 disposed at the rear end of the cultivation shelf 30. Thewater supply portion 316 may protrude backward from the rear end of thecultivation shelf 30 and have an opened top surface. Also, the end ofthe water supply pipe 84 may be disposed above the opened top surface ofthe water supply portion 316 and be bent to face the opened top surfaceof the water supply portion 316.

The water supply module may include the sub tank 82. The sub tank 82 maybe disposed at a side of the pump 83 and be disposed behind the watertank 70. The sub tank 82 may be connected to the water tank 70 and thepump 83 so that the water in the water tank 70 is supplied to the pump83.

Also, the sub tank 82 may be configured to be always maintained at a setwater level. Thus, when the pump 83 is stopped and restarted, air may beprevented from being introduced, and water may be always filled in theinlet side of the pump 83. Thus, the pump 83 may ensure that an accurateamount of water is supplied through the time control. Also, even if thesmall pump 83 is used repeatedly for a long time, a reliable operationmay be secured.

The drain module may be disposed at the left side of the cultivationshelf 30 on which the opening/closing member 36 is provided. The drainmodule may include a drain tray 85 and a drain pipe 89. The drain tray85 may be disposed below the opening/closing member 36 that opens andcloses a drain hole 319 of the cultivation shelf 30 to receive waterfrom the cultivation shelf 30, which is drained from the drain hole 319.

The opening/closing member 36 may be configured to open and close thedrain hole 319 by rotation thereof and may operate by a driving device86 provided above the opening/closing member 36. The driving device 86may include an upper driving device 86 a for opening the opening/closingmember 36 of the upper cultivation shelf 30 a and a lower driving device86 b for opening the opening/closing member 36 of the lower cultivationshelf 30 b.

For example, the driving device 86 may have a structure in which a rodmoves vertically by driving a motor, and when moving downward, the drainhole 319 may be opened by pressing the opening/closing member 36 torotate. Also, when the rod moves upward, the opening/closing member 36may be returned to its original position to close the drain hole 319again.

That is, water of the cultivation shelf 30 may be drained by theoperation of the driving device 86. The driving device 86 may operateafter a set time elapses after water is supplied to the cultivationshelf 30. The set time may be set to a time at which water supplied tothe cultivation shelf 30 and supplied to the seed package 90 issufficiently supplied as the seeds. The seeds or plants inside the seedpackage 90 may absorb a sufficient amount of water within the set timeafter water is supplied into the seed package 90.

For example, the set time may be set to about 1 hour to about 1 hour 30minutes. Therefore, the cultivation shelf 30 may be maintained in watersupply state for at least the set time, and after the set time elapses,all the water inside the cultivation shelf 30 may be drained by drivingthe driving device 86. Thus, the inside of the cultivation shelf 30 andthe seed package 90 may be maintained in empty state of water untilresupplying of water starts, and mold or green algae may be preventedfrom occurring in the cultivation space 100.

Particularly, the blower 50 may be driven inside the cultivation space100, and the water inside the cultivation shelf 30 may be moreeffectively removed due to the air circulation by the blower 50. Thus,the contaminated environment of the cultivation space 100 may beeliminated during a time period until the resupplying of water startsafter the drain is completed.

The set time may be adjusted according to the type of crops. When theamount of water suitable for cultivated plants is large, the set timemay be adjusted so that the water supply time increases, or water ismore frequently supplied.

When a water level inside the cultivation shelf 30 exceeds anappropriate water level, the driving device 86 may be driven to forciblydrain the water from the cultivation shelf 30 regardless of the set timeto prevent the water within the cultivation shelf 30 from overflowing.

The drain tray 85 may be connected to the drain pipe 89. The drain tray85 may serve as a buffer for primarily accommodating water dischargedfrom the cultivation shelf 30. Also, the drain tray 85 may have apredetermined area to prevent the falling water from being splashing oroverflowing while the water is drained. Also, the water discharged fromthe cultivation shelf 30 may be guided toward the drain pipe 89 withoutoverflowing.

The drain tray 85 may include an upper drain tray 85 a provided belowthe upper cultivation shelf 30 a and a lower drain tray 85 b providedbelow the lower cultivation shelf 30 b. Also, the upper drain tray 85 aand the lower drain tray 85 b may be connected to the drain pipe 89.

The drain pipe 89 may be configured to guide water from the drain tray85 to the water tank 70 and may include a connection pipe 87 connectedto the drain tray 85 and a drain tube 88 connecting the connection pipe87 to the water tank 70.

The connection pipe 87 may be connected to both the upper drain tray 85a and the lower drain tray 85 b and may extend in the verticaldirection. The connection pipe 87 may have a sufficient inner space soas not to overflow or backflow even when a large amount of water issupplied from the drain tray 85 and may have a cross-sectional areagreater than that of the drain tube 88.

An upper end of the connection pipe 87 may be connected to the upperdrain tray 85 a and may extend further downward than the lower draintray 85 b. Also, a lower end of the connection pipe 87 may be bentforward and may extend forward.

The connection pipe 87 may be disposed inside the side surface of thecultivation space 100. That is, the connection pipe 87 may beaccommodated in a portion recessed in the side plate 122 so that theconnection pipe 87 protrudes to the inside of the cultivation space 100or is not exposed when viewed from the front side.

The drain tube 88 may be connected to a lower end of the connection pipe87. The drain tube 88 may be provided in a tube shape having a diameterless than the cross-sectional area of the connection pipe 87 and may bemade of a flexible material. Thus, the drain tube 88 may extend from anend of the connection pipe 87 to the water tank 70 and may be disposedinside the pump cover 81.

A drain valve 881 may be provided at the extending end of the drain tube88. The drain valve 881 may be exposed to the outside of the pump cover81 and be connected to the water tank 70 when the water tank 70 ismounted.

In detail, the drain valve 881 has the same structure as a check valveand may be opened while being connected to the water tank 70 when thewater tank 70 is mounted. Due to the opening of the drain valve 881, thedrain pipe 89 and the water tank 70 may communicate with each other, andwater drained from the cultivation shelf 30 may be introduced into thewater tank 70.

Also, when the water tank 70 is withdrawn, the drain valve 881 may beclosed by releasing contact with the water tank 70 to prevent the waterin the drain pipe 89 from being drained. Thus, the inside of thecultivation space 100 may be prevented from being contaminated by thedrained water while the water tank 70 is withdrawn.

As described above, the water tank 70 may be connected to the watersupply module and the drain module. Thus, the water of the water tank 70may be supplied to the upper cultivation shelf 30 a and the lowercultivation shelf 30 b by the water supply module, and the water fromthe upper cultivation shelf 30 a and the lower cultivation shelf 30 bmay be collected to the water tank 70 by the drain module. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 11, water may be circulated between the water tank70 and the cultivation shelf 30.

Hereinafter, the structure of the cultivation shelf 30 will be describedin more detail with reference to the drawings. Since the cultivationshelf 30 has the same structure regardless of the vertical position,only one cultivation shelf 30 will be described below, and the uppercultivation shelf 30 a and the lower cultivation shelf 30 b may haveexactly the same structure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cultivation shelf. Also, FIG. 13 isan exploded perspective view of the cultivation shelf.

As illustrated in the drawings, the cultivation shelf 30 may beconfigured so that the plurality of the seed packages 90 are seated, andthe water supplied from the water tank 70 may be supplied to the seedpackages 90.

In detail, the cultivation shelf 30 may include a shelf tray 32 on whichthe seed package 90 is mounted, and a shelf base 31 accommodating watersupplied to the seed package 90. Also, the shelf tray 32 may be seatedon the shelf base 31 to define an outer appearance of the top surface ofthe cultivation shelf 30.

The shelf tray 32 may be made of a metal material to have an excellentand clean outer appearance. For example, the shelf tray 32 may be madeof a stainless material to be resistant to contamination and tofacilitate cleaning and management.

The shelf tray 32 may be mounted in a state of overlapping a top surfaceof the shelf base 31 and may be provided in a shape corresponding to thetop surface shape of the shelf base 31. Also, when the shelf tray 32 ismounted, a front surface and left and right surfaces of the shelf base31 may be exposed, and the water supply portion 316 and theopening/closing member 36, which are disposed on a rear surface of theshelf base 31, may also protrude to a rear side of the shelf tray 32.

The shelf tray 32 may be provided in a rectangular shape when viewedfrom above. Also, the shelf tray 32 may include a tray top surface 321that defines an outer appearance of the top surface as a whole and aseat 320 recessed from the tray top surface 321. The seat 320 may bereferred to as a tray seat to be distinguished from a base seat 310 ofthe shelf base 31.

The top surface of the tray 321 may define an outer appearance of thetop surface of the shelf base 31 except for the seat 320 and may beprovided in a planar shape. Also, a tray edge 321 a bent or curved in around shape may be disposed around the top surface of the tray 321.

The seat 320 may be recessed in a shape corresponding to the seedpackage 90 so that the seed package 90 is seated. A plurality of seats320 may be provided so that the plurality of the seed packages 90 areseated in separate spaces, respectively. For example, three seats 320may be arranged side by side in the left and right direction.

The seat 320 may accommodate the entire bottom surface of the seedpackage 90 and may be recessed to accommodate at least a portion ofupper and lower heights. Here, the seat bottom surface 321 may have asize and shape corresponding to those of the container bottom surface911 of the seed package 90. Thus, when the seed package 90 is seated onthe seat 320, the container bottom surface 911 may be in surface contactwith the seat bottom surface 321. In this state, even if water issupplied by opening the shutter 33, the water may not be permeatedbetween the bottom surface 911 of the container and the bottom surface322 of the seat.

Also, the shutter 33 may be provided at a center of the bottom surface322 of the seat. One shutter 33 may be provided for each of theplurality of seats 320. Also, the shutter 33 may be mounted on acommunication member mounting hole 323 passing through the bottomsurface 322 of the seat. The shutter 33 may move vertically to allow thewater accommodated in the shelf base 31 to be selectively introduced.The shutter 33 may be referred to as a water supply member because ofenabling the selective water supply to the seat 320.

The shutter 33 may be disposed at the center of each of the plurality ofseats 320, and the plurality of shutters 33 may all be disposed in thesame extension line. For example, the shutters 33 may be disposed in thesame extension line in the horizontal direction (left and rightdirection in FIG. 12). Therefore, when water is supplied, the water maybe supplied at the same position in each of the seats 320, and also, thewater may be accurately supplied regardless of the mounted positions ofthe seed package 90 on the plurality of seats 320.

The shutter 33 may operate according to the mounting of the seed package90. That is, the shutter 33 may be maintained in closed state inside theseat 320, on which the seed package 90 is not mounted, among theplurality of seats 320 and may be maintained in opened state at the seat320, on which the seed package 90 is mounted, so that the water isintroduced to be supplied to the seed package 90.

That is, the shutter 33 may be configured to selectively supply thewater to the seat 320, on which the seed package 90 is mounted, amongthe plurality of seats 320 according to whether the seed package 90 ismounted.

The shutter 33 may be disposed at a position facing the water inlet 912of the seed package 90, and when the seed package 90 is seated on theseat 320, a portion of the shutter 33 may be accommodated inside thewater inlet 912, and a bottom surface of the water inlet 912 may press atop surface of the shutter 33 so that the shutter 33 operates. Thestructure of the shutter 33 and the interaction between the shutter 33and the water inlet 912 will be described in more detail below.

The shelf base 31 may be provided below the shelf tray 32. The shelfbase 31 may be configured to allow water supplied from the water tank 70to flow and be stored and may have a top surface shape corresponding toa bottom surface shape of the shelf tray 32 so that the shelf tray 32 isseated.

The shelf base 31 may be made of a plastic material and may be providedin a square shape corresponding to the shelf tray 32 when viewed fromabove. Also, the shelf base 31 may include a base top surface 311 onwhich the shelf tray 32 is mounted and a base seat 310. Also, a handle312 for the withdrawal of the cultivation shelf 30 may be provided on afront surface of the shelf base 31, and a base side surface coupled tothe shelf rail for the withdrawal of the cultivation shelf 30 may beprovided at each of both left and right sides of the shelf base 31.

Also, a shutter accommodation portion 315 in which the shutter 33 isaccommodated and a base passage 317 connecting the shutter accommodationportion 315 to the water supply portion 316 and the drain hole 319 maybe provided inside the shelf base 31. Also, the shelf base 31 may beprovided with an opening/closing member 36 that opens and closes thedrain hole 319 and the floater 34 sensing a water level of the shelfbase 31.

Hereinafter, the structure of the shelf base 31 will be described inmore detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view of the shelf base that is onecomponent of the cultivation shelf. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the shelfbase.

As illustrated in the drawings, the shelf base 31 may have an outerappearance of a top surface appearance, which is defined by the base topsurface 311. Also, the base top surface 311 may support the tray topsurface 321 of the shelf tray 32.

Also, the handle 312 may be disposed on a front surface of the shelfbase 31. The handle 312 may define the front surface of the shelf base31 and may extend from a left front end to a right end of the shelf base31 and also may extend downward from the base top surface 311.

The handle 312 may protrude downward so that the user pulls the handleby putting his or her hand into a lower front of the shelf base 31. Theuser may hold the handle 312 to manipulate the withdrawal of thecultivation shelf 30.

Also, the base side surfaces 313 may be defined on both left and rightsides of the shelf base 31, respectively. The base side surface 313 mayextend downward from each of both left and right ends of the top surface311 of the base 311.

A front coupling portion 313 a and a rear coupling portion 313 b coupledto the shelf rail 16 may be disposed on the base side surfaces 313. Thefront coupling portion 313 a may be provided in the first half of thebase side surface 313 and may be provided in a groove shape with a lowerend recessed. Also, the rear coupling portion 313 b may be provided at arear end of the base side surface 313 and may be provided in a grooveshape that is recessed forward.

Thus, to mount the cultivation shelf 30, that is, the shelf base 31 onthe shelf rail 16, the shelf base 31 may first move backward to restrictthe rear end of the shelf base 31 so that one side of the shelf rail 16is inserted into the rear coupling portion 313 b. Then, a front end ofthe shelf base 31 may move downward so that the other side of the shelfbase 31 is inserted into the front coupling portion 313 a to restrictthe front end of the cultivation shelf 30 to the shelf rail 16, therebycoupling the shelf base 31 to the shelf rail 16.

A shelf detection member 35 may be provided at one side of the bottomsurface of the shelf base 31. The shelf detection member 35 may beconfigured to detect that the cultivation shelf is completely insertedand may be provided at a position corresponding to the shelf detectiondevice 49 disposed below the cultivation shelf 30. For example, theshelf detection member 35 may be made of a magnetic material and may beexposed downward from the cultivation shelf 30.

In this embodiment, the lower lighting device 40 b may be provided belowthe upper cultivation shelf 30 a, and the shelf detection device 49 maybe disposed on the lower lighting device 40 b. Also, the water tank 70and the pump cover 81 may be provided below the lower cultivation shelf30 b, and the shelf detection member 35 may be disposed on a top surfaceof the pump cover 81, which is a position corresponding to the shelfdetection member 35. That is, the shelf detection device 49 may bedisposed at a position corresponding to the position of the shelfdetection member 35 among the constituents disposed below thecultivation shelf 30.

The shelf detection device 49 may be configured as a hall sensor thatdetects a magnet and be configured to detect the shelf detection member35 when the cultivation shelf 30 is completely inserted. The cultivationshelf 30 has to be disposed in a state of being inserted to an accurateposition. Due to the characteristics of the cultivation shelf 30 havingthe structure in which the cultivation shelf 30 is inserted andwithdrawn, if the cultivation shelf 30 is not disposed at the correctposition, the water supply pipe 84 and the water supply portion 316 maynot be aligned with each other, and thus, water may leak or overflowduring the water supply process. Also, during the draining process,water may leak out of the drain tray 85.

Thus, in this embodiment, the shelf detection device 49 may detectwhether the cultivation shelf 30 has reached the correct position, andwhen the cultivation shelf 30 is not disposed at the correct position,the information, in which the cultivation is not disposed at the correctposition, may be informed to the outside so that the user manipulatesthe cultivation shelf 30 to be disposed at the correct position.

The base seat 310 may be disposed inside the base top surface 311. Thebase seat 310 may have a shape corresponding to that of the seat 320,and a bottom surface of the base seat 310, that is, the base bottomsurface 314 may be in surface contact with the seat bottom surface 322.Thus, the base seat 310 and the seat 320 may be in a state in which thebottom surfaces are in close contact with each other to be maintained instably mounted state, and thus, the water may be effectively supplied tothe seed package 90.

Also, a shutter accommodation portion 315 may be provided at an innercenter of the base seat 310. The shutter accommodation portion 315 maybe disposed at a position corresponding to the shutter 33 in a state ofbeing mounted on the shelf tray 32, and the shutter accommodationportion 315 may be provided for each of the plurality of base seats 310.

Also, the shutter accommodation portion 315 may have a size capable ofaccommodating the shutter 33 therein. The shutter accommodation portion315 may be provided in a circular shape to accommodate a lower portionof the shutter 33. Also, the shutter accommodation portion 315 maydefine a recessed space having a set height H1 so as to ensure verticalmovement of the shutter 33 without interfering with the shutter 33 whenthe shutter 33 moves vertically. The shutter accommodation portion 315may be recessed to a height at which the shutter accommodation portionis in contact with the lower end of the shutter 33 when the shutter 33moves to the lowermost position. For example, the set height H1 may beapproximately 14 mm.

The water supply portion 316 may be disposed at one side (right side inFIG. 15) of the left and right sides of the rear end of the shelf base31. The water supply portion 316 may protrude backward and be recessedto receive water supplied through the water supply pipe 84.

Also, the drain hole 319 and the opening/closing member 36 that opensand closes the drain hole 319 may be provided on the other side (leftside in FIG. 15) of the left and right sides of the rear end of theshelf base 31. The opening/closing member 36 may have a shape capable ofsurrounding and shielding the drain hole 319 and an area adjacent to thedrain hole 319 and may protrude backward to rotate according to theoperation of the driving device 86, thereby opening and closing thedrain hole 319. For example, the opening/closing member 36 may include acover, a plate, or the like.

The shelf base 31 may be provided with a base passage 317, through whichwater flows, on the shelf base 31. The base passage 317 may be providedto connect all of the water supply portion 316, the shutteraccommodation portion 315, the water level detection portion 317 f, thedrain hole 319, and the drain portion 318 to each other. In addition,the base passage 317 may guide the water supplied to the shelf base 31so as to be effectively supplied to the seed package 90 and drainedafter the water supply is completed.

The base passage 317 may include a water supply guide portion 317 a, abranch portion 317 b, a connection portion 317 c, and a drain guideportion 317 d.

In detail, the water supply guide portion 317 a may be configured toconnect the water supply portion 316 to the branch portion 317 b and mayextend from one end of the water supply portion 316 to the branchportion 317 b. Here, each of the water supply portion 316 and the watersupply guide portion 317 a may be disposed at a position higher than thebranch portion 317 b. Also, a bottom surface of the water supply guideportion 317 a may have an inclination that gradually decreases towardthe branch portion 317 b. Thus, the water supplied to the water supplyportion 316 may flow toward the branch portion 317 b.

In addition, the branch portion 317 b may be disposed along the rearends of the seats 320 disposed on the shelf base 31. The branch portion317 b may pass through all of the plurality of seats 320 disposed on theshelf base 31, and one end of the branch portion 317 b may be connectedto the drain guide portion 317 b connected to the drain hole 319.

Also, the drain guide portion 317 d may be connected from one end of thebranch portion 317 b to the drain hole 319. The drain hole 319 may bedefined in an end of the drain guide portion 317 d, and the drain hole319 may be defined at the lowest position of the bottom surface of thedrain guide portion 317 d. Thus, water passing through the branchportion 317 b may be naturally discharged to the drain hole 319 throughthe drain guide portion 317 d.

A plurality of connection portions 317 c may be disposed on the branchportion 317 b. The plurality of connection portions 317 c may beprovided for each of the base seats 310 and may be connected to theshutter accommodation portion 315 of the base seat 310. Thus, the watersupplied to the water supply portion 316 may flow in order to the watersupply guide portion 317 a and the branch portion 317 b and then may besupplied into all the shutter accommodation portions 315 on the shelfbase 31 through the plurality of connection parts 317 c connected to thebranch portion 317 b.

While water is supplied to the water supply portion 316 and until theset time elapses before the start of the drainage, the opening/closingmember 36 may be closed, and the drain hole 319 may be maintained in theclosed state. Thus, a state in which the base passage 317 including theshutter accommodation portion 315 is filled with water may bemaintained.

The base passage 317 may further include a water level detection portion317 f. The water level detection portion 317 f may be configured toprevent water supply above a full water level H2 into the shelf basefrom occurring and may be configured so that the floater 34 is disposedin the water level detection portion 317 f.

Hereinafter, the water level detection device 48 will be described inmore detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 16 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XVI-XV1′ of FIG.12. Also, FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a state in which a water levelin the shelf is detected by the floater of the cultivation shelf.

As illustrated in the drawings, the water level detection portion 317 fmay extend from one side of the branch portion 317 b. Also, the branchportion 317 b may be disposed at a position facing the extending end ofthe water supply guide portion 317 a.

Thus, when water is first supplied from the water supply portion 316,the water supplied to the branch portion 317 b may be directed to thewater level detection portion 317 f at the same time. Thus, when anexcessive amount of water is supplied to increase in water level of thecultivation shelf 30, the excessive water supply may be detected first.

In detail, when the shelf tray 32 is mounted, the water level detectionportion 317 f may be disposed at a position that does not interfere withthe seat 320. Therefore, the water level detection portion 317 f has tobe disposed at one side of the top surface 311 of the base and also hasto be close to the water supply portion 316 to immediately detect thatwater is supplied above the full water level. Thus, the water leveldetection portion 317 f may be disposed at a position that is close tothe water supply portion 316 in a space between the base mountingportions 310.

If the water level detection portion 317 f is disposed at the leftmostbase seat 310, when the water level detection portion 317 f detects awater level above the full water level, the rightmost base seat 310 maybe already reached the full water level, and thus, the water mayoverflow to the outside of the cultivation shelf 30 as it goes over.Thus, the water level detection portion 317 f may be disposed at aposition facing the water supply guide portion 317 a to enable moreaccurate detection of the water level, thereby preventing water fromoverflowing from the cultivation shelf 30.

Also, the water level detection portion 317 f may extend forward andalso may extend to a position at which the water level detection device48 disposed on the lighting device 40 under the cultivation shelf 30 isdisposed. Thus, when the floater 34 is disposed at an end of the waterlevel detection portion 317 f, the floater 34 may be disposed at aposition facing the water level detection device 48 to accuratelydetermine the water level of the cultivation shelf 30.

In addition, a floater guide 343 that guides the position of the floater34 may protrude from the water level detection portion 317 f. Thefloater guide 343 may be disposed at a position spaced apart from an endof the water level detection portion by a length of the floater 34 andmay extend upward from a bottom surface of the water level detectionportion 317 f. Also, both sides of the floater guide 343 may be spacedapart from an inner wall surface of the water level detection portion317 f, and thus, water may be introduced up to the end of the waterlevel detection portion 317 f at which the floater 34 is disposed.

The floater 34 may include a floater case 341 and a magnet 342. Thefloater case 341 may define an outer shape of the floater 34 and may bemade of a material having buoyancy capable of floating in water. Thatis, the floater 34 may be made of a sponge or foam material to befloated in water, and a magnet 342 may be accommodated therein. Also,the magnet 342 may be disposed on an inner bottom surface of the floatercase 341. Thus, when the water level detection portion 317 f is filledwith water, the floater 34 may rise as the water level increases due tothe buoyancy.

A water level detection device 48 may be disposed below the cultivationshelf 30. In this embodiment, the lower lighting device 40 b may beprovided below the upper cultivation shelf 30 a, and the water leveldetection device 48 may be disposed on the lower lighting device 40 b.Also, the water tank 70 and the pump cover 81 may be provided below thelower cultivation shelf 30 b, and the water level detection device 48may be disposed on a top surface of the pump cover 81, which is aposition corresponding to the floater 34. That is, the water leveldetection device 48 may be disposed at a position corresponding to theposition of the floater 34 among the constituents disposed below thecultivation shelf 30.

In FIG. 17, a state in which the water level detection device isdisposed in the lighting device is illustrated. As illustrated in thedrawing, when the cultivation shelf 30 is completely inserted, the waterlevel detection device 18 may be disposed below the floater 34.

The lighting device 40 may include the light case 41 on which the LEDmodule 42 is mounted, and the light cover 43 that shields the LED module42 and transmits light radiated from the LED. Also, the lighting device40 may include a cover plate 53 that is coupled to the light case 41 todefine a top surface of the lighting device 40. The cover plate 53 maybe disposed to face the bottom surface of the cultivation shelf 30 andmay be disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the cultivation shelf30.

The water level detection device 48 may be provided at one side of thelight case 41. The water level detection device 48 may be disposedvertically below the floater 34 in a state in which the cultivationshelf 30 is inserted. Also, the water level detection device 48 may bedisposed as close to the cover plate 53 as possible and may beconfigured to effectively detect the floater 34.

The water level detection device 48 may be configured to detect a changein magnetic field and may be configured to determine a vertical heightof the floater 34. That is, the water level detection device 48 maydetect a change in magnetic field by the magnet of the floater 34 todetect a distance to the floater 34, thereby determining a water levelof the cultivation shelf 30.

For example, when water is not supplied to the cultivation shelf 30, thefloater 34 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the water leveldetection portion 317 f. Here, the position of the floater 34 may bedisposed at the closest position to the water level detection device 48,and in the water level detection device 48, the water level of the waterlevel detection portion 317 f may be determined to be lowest throughstrength of the strongest magnetic field. In this state, when the settime condition is satisfied, water may be supplied to the cultivationshelf 30.

Also, when water is supplied to the cultivation shelf 30, the floater 34may move upward according to the water level of the cultivation shelf 30and then gradually move away from the bottom surface of the water leveldetection portion 317 f. Also, the water level detection device 48 maydetect that the strength of the magnetic field gradually decreases asthe floater 34 moves away.

Here, when an amount of water exceeding the full water level H2 issupplied to the cultivation shelf 30, the water level detection device48 may detect the excessive water supply. The amount of water suppliedto the cultivation shelf 30 may be controlled by the driving time of thepump 83, but the water level of the cultivation shelf 30 may be abovethe full water level due to other factors such as abnormality of thepump 83 or poor drainage.

When the water level detection device 48 detects that the water level ofthe cultivation shelf 30 is above the abnormal water level H3 that isequal to or higher than the full water level H2, the water to thecultivation shelf 30 may be stopped. That is, when the water level ofthe cultivation shelf 30 rises more than necessary, since the wateroverflows to the outside of the cultivation shelf 30, or the drainageand water supply are not smoothly performed, the driving of the pump 83may be stopped, or the driving device 86 may be driven to forcibly drainthe water of the cultivation shelf 30.

The abnormal water level H3 detected by the water level detection device48 may be set somewhat higher than the full water level H2. The setabnormal water level H2 may be set to a specific height between the fullwater level H2 and a limit water level H4 in consideration of residualwater remaining on the cultivation shelf 30 or an error in amount ofwater, which occurs during the water supply process. For example, theabnormal water level H3 may be set between about 20 mm and about 28 mm.

Also, the base passage 317 may further include a drain guide portion 317e. The drain guide portion 317 e may be disposed at one side of theshelf base 31 and be configured to prevent the water level of the shelfbase 31 from exceeding the limit water level H4.

Hereinafter, the drain guide portion 317 e will be described in moredetail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a state in which water overflows in across-section taken along line XVIII-XVIII′ of FIG. 15. Also, FIG. 19 isa view illustrating a state of a water level in a cross-section takenalong line XIX-XIX′ of FIG. 15.

As illustrated in the drawings, the base passage 317 may include thedrain guide portion 317 e. The drain guide portion 317 e may connect thebranch portion 317 b to the drain portion 318.

The drain guide portion 317 e may be provided at the same height as thelimit water level H4. The limit water level H4 may be higher than theabnormal water level H3 detected by the floater 34 and lower than theheight of the top surface 311 of the base of the shelf base 31. Forexample, the limit water level H4 may be set to about 38 mm.

The drain guide portion 317 e may be disposed at a position above thebottom surface of the branch portion 317 b by the limit water level H4.Also, the drain guide portion 317 e may extend backward, and the drainportion 318 may be disposed on a rear end of the drain guide portion 317e.

The drain portion 318 may extend downward from the rear end of the drainguide portion 317 e and may be provided in a tubular shape with openedtop and bottom surfaces. The drain portion 318 may extend downward andmay extend toward the drain tray 85. Here, the lower end of the drainportion 318 may be disposed higher than the bottom surface of the shelfbase 31 so that when the cultivation shelf 30 is withdrawn, the lowerend of the drain portion 318 does not interfere with the drain tray 85.

Thus, even if the water level detection device 48 fails to detect theabnormal water level H3 due to a failure or the like, the pump 83 mayabnormally operate, or water of the inside of the cultivation shelf 30may not be smoothly drained, and thus, the resupply of water may beperformed. Here, when the water level inside the shelf base 31 reachesthe limit water level H4, the water may be discharged through the drainportion 318 naturally.

The water level of the cultivation shelf 30 may not rise above the limitwater level H4 in any case, and the phenomenon in which the watersupplied to the cultivation shelf 30 overflows to flow down orcontaminates the cultivation space 100 may be prevented fundamentally.

As described above, even if an abnormal water supply situation occurs inthe cultivation shelf 30, but a normal water supply state, an occurrenceof the water overflow situation in the cultivation shelf 30 may beprevented from occurring by the water level detection device 48 and thedrain portion 318.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, in the normal water supply situation, whenthe pump 83 is driven for a set time or longer, the water supplied tothe cultivation shelf 30 may be fully filled into the shutteraccommodation portion 315 having the set height H1 and also be supplieduntil the full water level H2 is reached. Here, the water supplied tothe cultivation shelf 30 may be approximately 1 L.

When water is supplied to the full water level H2, the water level maybe higher than the bottom surface 322 of the seat, and when the seedpackage 90 is mounted in this state, the shutter 33 of the seat 320 maybe opened so that water is supplied into the seed package 90. Also,among the plurality of seats 320, the seat 320 to which the seed package90 is not mounted may be blocked by the shutter 33 so that water is notsupplied to the seat 320.

Also, even if an excessive water supply situation occurs due to anabnormal operation of the pump 83 or erroneous detection of the waterlevel detection device 48 during the water supply process, the water maybe forcibly drained through the drain portion 318 to prevent the waterlevel of the cultivation shelf 30 from exceeding the limit water levelH4.

Hereinafter, the shutter 33 will be described in more detail withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 20 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XX-XX′ of FIG.12. Also, FIG. 21 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion A of FIG.20. Also, FIG. 22 is a cutaway perspective view taken along lineXXII-XXII′ of FIG. 12. Also, FIG. 23 is a perspective view of theshutter that is one component of the cultivation shelf. Also, FIG. 24 isan exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which the shutteris disassembled when viewed from the above. FIG. 25 is an explodedperspective view illustrating a state in which the shutter isdisassembled when viewed from the below.

As illustrated in the drawings, water supplied to the water supplyportion 316 may flow through the base passage 317 and then be suppliedinto the shutter accommodation portion 315 via the water supply guideportion 317 a, the branch portion 317 b, and the connection portion 317c.

Here, the bottom surfaces of the branch portion 317 b, the connectionportion 317 c, and the shutter accommodation portion 315 may be the sameheight, and the supplied water may be filled at the same time into thebranch portion 317 b, the connection portion 317 c, and the shutteraccommodation portion 315. Also, the plurality of connection portions317 c and the shutter accommodation portions 315 connected to the branchportion 317 b may also be filled with water at the same time. Also, torealize the vertical movement of the shutter 33, the shutteraccommodation portion 315 may be recessed by a distance at which thelower end of the shutter 33 is movable downward.

Also, the shutter 33 may be provided inside the seat 320 that isrecessed in the shelf tray 32. Also, the shutter 33 may be disposed at aposition corresponding to the shutter accommodation portion 315 disposedon the shelf base 31.

Thus, the constituents of the shutter 33, which are disposed at thelower side with respect to the seat bottom surface 322, may be disposedinside the shutter accommodation portion 315, and the constituents ofthe shutter 33, which are disposed at the upper side with respect to theseat bottom surface 322, may protrude to operate due to the contact withthe seed package 90 seated on the seat 320.

The shutter 33 may be maintained in a state mounted on the seat 320 andmay operate according to the mounting of the seed package 90 so thatwater supplied to the shelf base 31 is selectively supplied to the seat320 and the seed package 90. Since the shutter 33 determines watersupply into the seat, the shutter 33 may be referred to as a watersupply device or an opening/closing device.

That is, according to the operation of the shutter 33, the communicationhole 334 e defined in the bottom surface 322 of the seat may be openedand closed. That is, when the communication hole 334 e is closed, thewater supply to the seat 320 may be blocked, and when the communicationhole 334 e is opened, the water supply to the seat 320 and the seedpackage 90 may be enabled. Here, the operation of the shutter 33 may beconfigured to be opened while being pressed by the seed package 90 whenthe seed package 90 is mounted. Thus, the cultivation shelf 30 may beconfigured to provide the selective water supply by the operation of themechanically configured shutter 33 without an electrical devicerequiring a separate power supply.

In the detailed structure of the shutter 33, the shutter 33 may includea shutter member 331 that moves vertically inside the shutteraccommodation portion 315, a communication member 334 in which anopening opened and closed by the shutter member 331 is defined, and apressing member 336 protruding from the seat bottom surface 322 andelevated by the contact with the seed package 90.

In detail, the shutter member 331 may have a size that is capable ofbeing accommodated inside the shutter accommodation portion 315 to covera plurality of communication holes 334 e defined in the communicationmember 334 from below.

The shutter member 331 may be provided in a disk shape when viewed fromabove, and a screw hole 331 c may be defined in a center of the shuttermember 331. A screw 337 may be coupled to the screw hole 331 c, and thescrew 337 may pass through the shutter member 331 and be coupled to theboss portion 336 b of the pressing member 336. Thus, the shutter member331 and the pressing member 336 may be integrally coupled to each otherand may move vertically together.

The shutter member 331 may have a flat bottom surface. Thus, when theshutter accommodation portion 315 is filled with water, the bottomsurface of the shutter member 331 may be in contact with a watersurface, and thus, the buoyancy may be effectively applied upward.Particularly, the shutter member 331 may be made of a material havingbuoyancy by which the shutter member 331 is capable of being floated inwater, and when the shutter accommodation portion 315 is filled withwater, the shutter member 331 may move upward according to the waterlevel. For example, the shutter member 331 may be made of a foammaterial such as Styrofoam.

Further, a shutter member protrusion 331 a protruding upward may bedisposed on an upper side of the shutter member 331. The shutter memberprotrusion 331 a may protrude upward from a position that is separated apredetermined distance from the center of the shutter member 331.

Also, a sealing member mounting portion 331 d on which the sealingmember 332 is mounted may be recessed in an outer surface of a shuttermember protrusion portion 331 a. The sealing member 332 may be providedin a shape such as an O-ring and may be made of a material havingelasticity. Also, the sealing member 332 may be provided to be incontact with the bottom surface of the communication member 334 when theshutter member 331 moves upward.

Here, all of the communication holes 334 e defined in the communicationmember 334 may be defined in an inner region of the sealing member 332.That is, the sealing member 332 may be provided in an O-ring shape, anda diameter of the sealing member 332 may be greater than a distancebetween the communication holes 334 e. Thus, when the shutter member 331moves upward so that the sealing member 332 is in contact with thecommunication member 334, water supplied to the shelf base 31 may not besupplied to the seat 320.

Also, a shutter member recess portion 331 b on which the communicationmember guide portion 334 b of the communication member 334 protrudingdownward is seated may be disposed on an inner surface of the shuttermember protrusion portion 331 a. Thus, when the shutter member 331 movesupward, a top surface of the shutter member 331 and a bottom surface ofthe communication member 334 may be maintained to be in close contactwith each other.

That is, when the shutter accommodation portion 315 is filled withwater, the shutter member 331 may move upward so that the sealing member332 is in close contact with the communication member 334, and thecommunication member guide portion 334 b and the shutter member recessportion 331 b are in close contact with each other to maintain theclosed state of the shutter member 331. In this state, the communicationhole 334 e may be covered by the shutter member 331 to prevent the watersupplied to the shelf base 31 from flowing toward the seat 320.

The communication member 334 may be disposed at the center of the seat320. The communication member 334 may be mounted on a communicationmember mounting hole 323 defined to pass through the seat 320. Here, acircumference of the communication member mounting hole 323 may beprovided to be stepped and may be configured to support thecircumference of the communication member 334. Also, a sealing member332 may be further provided between the circumference of thecommunication member mounting hole 323 and the circumference of thecommunication member 334. Thus, in the state in which the communicationmember 334 is mounted, leaking of water between the circumference of thecommunication member mounting hole 323 and the circumference of thecommunication member 334 may be prevented.

The communication member 334 may be injection-molded using a plasticmaterial. Thus, a relatively complex and three-dimensional structure maybe provided. The communication member 334 may include a communicationmember guide portion 334 b, a communication member circumferentialportion 334 a spaced apart from the communication member guide portion334 b and connected to the communication member mounting hole 323, and aplurality of openings defined between the circumferential portion 334 aand the communication member guide portion 334 b.

The communication member guide portion 334 b may be defined at a centralportion of the communication member 334. Also, a bottom surface of thecommunication member guide portion 334 b may protrude downward and maybe provided in a corresponding shape to be seated in the shutter memberrecess portion 331 b.

Also, a top surface of the communication member guide portion 334 b mayinclude a spring groove 334 f recessed downward. The spring groove 334 fmay be a portion into which a lower end of the spring 335 penetrated bya boss portion 336 b is accommodated and may support the spring 335 frombelow. Also, an upper end of the spring 335 may be supported on a bottomsurface of the pressing member 336.

Therefore, the spring 335 may maintain the closed state of the shutter33 even when water is not accommodated inside the shutter accommodationportion 315, and when the pressing member 336 moves downward, the spring335 may be compressed. That is, when the seed package 90 is removed fromthe seat 320 in the state in which the seed package 90 is seated, thepressing member 336 may move upward due to restoring force of the spring335, and the shutter 33 may be maintained in the closed state.

If it is not necessary to maintain the closed state of the shutter 33 ina state in which the seed package 90 is not mounted, the spring may beomitted.

Also, a through-hole 334 c through which the boss portion 336 b of thepressing member 336 passes may be defined in the communication memberguide portion 334 b. The communication member guide portion 334 b inwhich the through-hole 334 c is defined may be bent in a shape such as aboss. Thus, the pressing member 336 may move vertically while passingthrough the through-hole 334 c, and the shutter member 331 may also movevertically together with the pressing member 336.

The communication member circumferential portion 334 a may be connectedto the communication member mounting hole 323, and the sealing member332 may be disposed along an outer end of the communication membercircumferential portion 334 a. An inner diameter of the communicationmember circumferential portion 334 a may be larger than an outerdiameter of the communication member guide portion 334 b, and thecommunication member circumferential portion 334 a and the communicationmember guide portion 334 b may be spaced apart from each other. Also,the communication member 334 may further include a communication memberconnection portion 334 d that connects the communication membercircumferential portion 334 a to the communication member guide portion334 b, which are spaced apart from each other.

A plurality of communication member connection portions 334 d may bearranged at regular intervals along the communication member guideportion 334 b and the communication member circumferential portion 334a. Thus, a space between the communication member connection portions334 d may be defined as the communication hole 334 e.

The communication member connection portion 334 d may connect the wholeportion between the communication member guide portion 334 b and thecommunication member circumference portion 334 a. In this case, thecommunication holes 334 e may be defined at regular intervals along thecommunication member connection portion 334 d.

Therefore, when the shutter 33 is opened, the water of the shelf base 31may be transferred inside the seat 320 through the communication hole334 e defined between the communication member guide portion 334 b andthe communication member circumferential portion 334 a.

The communication member guide portion 334 b may protrude further upwardthan the communication member circumferential portion 334 a, and thus,the communication member connection portion 334 d may be formed to beinclined or rounded. The communication hole 334 e disposed on thecommunication member connection portion 334 d may also be opened upwardto the outside, and the water discharged when the shutter 33 is openedmay be directed laterally to more smoothly flow to the seed package 90.

Thus, even in the state in which the pressing member 336 is pressed bythe seed package 90 to move downward, the communication hole 334 e maynot be blocked or covered, and thus, the water introduced or dischargedthrough the communication hole 334 e may smoothly flow radially withrespect to the center of the communication member 334.

Also, when the shutter 33 is closed, the shutter member protrusion 331 amay be accommodated in a space below the communication member connectionportion 334 d.

The pressing member 336 may include a contact portion 336 a thatprotrudes from the inside of the seat 320 and is in contact with theseed package 90 and a boss portion 336 b extending downward from acenter of the contact portion 336 a.

The contact portion 336 a may be provided in a disk shape and may have asize corresponding to a top surface of the water inlet 912 of the seedpackage 90. Thus, when the seed package 90 is mounted, the contactportion 336 a may be pressed by the top surface of the water inlet 912from the inside of the water inlet 912.

A size of the contact portion 336 a may correspond to that of thecommunication member 334, and thus the communication member 334 may beconfigured to be covered by the contact portion 336 a when viewed fromabove.

Also, a contact portion groove 336 c may be defined in a bottom surfaceof the contact portion 336 a. The contact portion groove 336 c may bedefined along a circumference of a bottom surface of the contact portion336 a and may be recessed at a position facing the communication hole334 e of the communication member 334. Thus, when water is suppliedthrough the communication hole 334 e, a space may be secured between thecommunication hole 334 e and the bottom surface of the contact portion336 a to facilitate the flow of the supplied water.

Also, the boss portion 336 b may extend downward from the center of thecontact portion 336 a and may extend downward to pass through thethrough-hole 334 c. Also, a screw hole 336 d may be defined on a bottomsurface of the boss portion 336 b so that the screw 337 passing throughthe shutter member 331 is coupled to the bottom surface of the bossportion 336 b. Thus, the shutter member 331 and the pressing member 336may be integrally coupled to each other by the screw 337.

As described above, the pressing member 336 and the shutter member 331may open and close the communication hole 334 e while moving in thevertical direction based on the communication member 334 in a fixedstate and also may selectively supply water to the seed package 90.

Also, although this embodiment discloses the structure in which thecommunication member 334 is mounted on the communication member mountinghole 323 opened in the seat 320, the separate communication member 334may not be mounted, and when the seat bottom surface 322 is molded, astructure corresponding to the communication member 334 may be moldedtogether.

Hereinafter, the operation of the shutter 33 for selectively supplyingwater and a water supply/drain structure will be described in moredetail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter when water is notsupplied to the cultivation shelf.

As illustrated in the drawings, when water is not supplied to thecultivation shelf 30, or when the water in the cultivation shelf 30 isfully drained, there is no water in the shutter accommodation portion315.

When there is no water inside the shutter accommodation portion 315, thebuoyancy for moving the shutter 33 upward is not applied. Also, theshutter 33 may move downward by its own weight, and the bottom surfaceof the shutter member 331 may be supported on the bottom surface of theshutter accommodation portion 315.

Also, in this state, the shutter 33 may be in an opened state in whichthe shutter moves downward. Also, since the shutter 33 moves downward,the contact portion 336 a of the pressing member 336 may shield aportion in which the communication hole 334 e is defined, and whenviewed from the outside, an area of the contact portion 336 a, whichcorresponds to the communication member 334 may be covered.

FIG. 26 illustrates a structure in which the communication member 334 isintegrated with the seat 320 of the shelf tray 32. Thus, although thecommunication member 334 is not directly illustrated, the communicationmember guide portion 334 b, the communication member circumferenceportion 334 a, and the communication member connection portion 334 d,which correspond to the communication member 334, may be shielded by thecontact portion 336 a. Here, although the shutter 33 is in an openedstate, since there is no water in the shutter accommodation portion 315,water may not be supplied to the inside of the seat 320.

In this state, the water in the water tank 70 may be supplied to thecultivation shelf 30 through the water supply pipe 84 by driving thepump 83.

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter when water issupplied to the cultivation shelf.

As illustrated in the drawing, when water is supplied to the watersupply portion 316 of the cultivation shelf 30, the water may besupplied along the base passage 317 of the shelf base 31. In this case,water may be supplied to all the shutter accommodation portions 315provided in the cultivation shelf 30. That is, regardless of whether theseed package 90 is mounted, water may be supplied to all the shutteraccommodation portions 315 of the cultivation shelf 30.

Water W supplied to the shutter accommodation portion 315 may besupplied to a set amount according to the operation time of the pump 83,and the amount of water W capable of reaching the full water level H2may be supplied. Alternatively, the water supply may be stopped by thefloater 34 during this process.

All of the plurality of shutter accommodation portions 315 may be filledby driving the pump 83, and the shutter 33 may move upward by the waterW filled in the shutter accommodation portions 315. In detail, theshutter member 331 may generate buoyancy due to the water W filled inthe shutter accommodation portion 315, and thus, the shutter 33 may moveupward.

In this case, the shutter member 331 may have the buoyancy by which theshutter member 331 is capable of being floated in the water W and thusmay move upward as the shutter accommodation portion 315 is filled withthe water W. The shutter member 331 may not be entirely made of amaterial having the buoyancy, and as illustrated in FIGS. 25 to 28, afloating portion 338 made of a material having buoyancy may be coupledto the bottom surface of the shutter member 331. That is, the shuttermember 331 may be made of a plastic material, and the floating portion338 may be made of a material having buoyancy to be floated in water,thereby increasing in durability of the shutter member 331 and providingthe buoyancy for the operation of the shutter member 331.

When the shutter accommodation portion 315 is fully filled with water,the shutter member 331 may be raised to a maximum height, and asillustrated in FIG. 27, the sealing member 332 may be in contact withthe communication hole 334 e, and thus, the shutter 33 may be in theclosed state. When the shutter 33 is closed, a circumferences of thecommunication holes 334 e may be airtight by the sealing member 332, andthus, the water inside the shutter accommodation portion 315 may not besupplied.

Also, when the shutter 33 is closed, the pressing member 336 mayprotrude to the maximum height to protrude from the bottom surface 322of the seat. In the state in which the seed package 90 is not mounted onthe cultivation shelf 30, the shutter 33 may be maintained in the closedstate, and water may not be supplied to the inside of the mountingportion 320.

The seed package 90 may be mounted on the cultivation shelf 30 forcultivation of the plants. Also, water may be supplied into the seat 320and the seed package 90 when water is supplied to the seat 320, on whichthe seed package 90 is seated, among the plurality of seats 320.

FIG. 28 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter and a water supplystate in a state in which the seed package is seated on the cultivationshelf. Also, FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating a state of a shelfwater supply portion of the cultivation shelf when water is supplied.Also, FIG. 30 is a plan view illustrating a state of a shelf watersupply portion of the seed package when water is supplied.

As illustrated in the drawings, the seed package 90 may be seated on thecultivation shelf 30. When the seed package 90 is seated on the seat320, the pressing member 336 of the shutter 33 may be disposed insidethe water inlet 912 of the seed package 90, and the pressing member 336may be pressed by a top surface of the water inlet 912.

The pressing member 336 may be pressed by a weight of the seed package90 to move downward. As the pressing member 336 moves, the shuttermember 331 connected to the pressing member 336 may also move downward,and the shutter 33 may be opened. That is, the shutter member 331 maymove to a bottom surface of the shutter accommodation portion 315, andthe sealing member 332 may be spaced apart from the communication member334 so that the water supplied to the cultivation shelf 30 is introducedinto the seat 320 through the communication hole 334 e.

In detail, the water supplied to the cultivation shelf 30 may be guidedto the shutter accommodation portion 315 along the base passage 317.Here, the supplied water may be introduced to the inside of the seat 320on which the seed package 90 is mounted, and the shutter 33 is opened.

Here, the communication hole 334 e may be provided in a shape of whichside and top surfaces are opened, and thus, even when the pressingmember 336 move downward, the water may be effectively discharged. Waterpassing through the communication hole 334 e defined in the seat bottomsurface 322 may be radially discharged from the center of the shutter33. Also, the container bottom surface 911 of the seed package 90 may bein contact with the seat bottom surface 322. Thus, water dischargedthrough the communication hole 334 e may be supplied into the seedpackage 90 through the container opening 912 c defined along thecircumference of the water inlet 912.

The container opening 912 c may be disposed at a side that is spacedapart from the communication hole 334 e and may be defined along thecircumference of the communication hole 334 e. Thus, the waterdischarged radially through the communication hole 334 e may be suppliedinto the container 91 through the container opening 912 c.

The water supplied to the cultivation shelf 30 may be supplied to thefull water level H2 when a set amount of water is supplied. The fullwater level H2 may be set at least higher than the container opening 912c. Thus, when the water supply to the cultivation shelf 30 is completed,the water may be filled up to a top surface of the water inlet 912inside the seed package 90.

The water introduced into the seed package 90 may be supplied to theseed accommodation member 93 disposed to be in contact with thecontainer bottom surface 911 of the seed package 90, and the seedaccommodation member 93 may absorb the supplied water to supply thewater to seeds or plants inside the seed accommodation member 93. Here,the water supplied to the seeds or plants may contain nutrients inputfrom the water tank 70, and thus, even in the state without providing aseparate medium or soil inside the seed package 90, the nutrientsrequired for the growth of the seed or plant may be supplied.

In the state in which the water is supplied to the cultivation shelf 30,the opening/closing member 36 may be maintained in the closed state fora set time. Also, after the time for which a sufficient amount of wateris absorbed into the seeds or plants elapses, the driving device 86 mayoperate to open the opening/closing member 36, and the water of thecultivation shelf 30 may be discharged through the drain hole 319.

FIG. 31 is a view illustrating a state of the shutter and a water drainstate in a state in which the seed package is seated on the cultivationshelf.

As illustrated in the drawing, when a set time elapses after the watersupply in the state in which the seed package 90 is mounted on the seat320, the water inside the cultivation shelf 30 may be drained. Theopening/closing member 36 may open the drain hole 319 by the driving ofthe driving device 86, and the water inside the cultivation shelf 30 maybe discharged through the drain hole 319.

In detail, the water inside the cultivation shelf 30 may be drained bythe opening of the drain hole 319. Here, the water inside the shutteraccommodation portion 315 may flow toward the drain hole 319 along thebase passage 317.

Here, since the seed package 90 is mounted, the shutter 33 may bemaintained in the opened state as ever. Thus, the water inside the seedpackage 90 may be drained through the container opening 912 c of thewater inlet 912 to flow into the shutter accommodation portion 315through the communication hole 334 e of the seat 320.

As a result, the water inside the cultivation shelf 30 as well as thewater inside the seed package 90 may be discharged through the basepassage 317 to the drain hole 319. Also, the water discharged throughthe drain hole 319 may be collected to the water tank 70 through thedrain tray 85 and the drain pipe 89.

Also, when the drainage inside the cultivation shelf 30 is completed,the opening/closing member 36 may be returned to its initial position bythe operation of the driving device 86 to close the drain hole 319.

When the water of the cultivation shelf 30 is fully drained, no waterexists inside the cultivation shelf 30, and the water inside the seedpackage 90 as well as the cultivation shelf 30 may be fully drained.

Alternatively, most of the water may be drained even if water does notexist completely inside the cultivation shelf 30 and the seed package90, and the remaining water may also be removed by the operation of theblower 50.

As described above, the inside of the seed package 90 as well as thecultivation shelf 30 may be maintained without water except for acertain time period after the water supply. Thus, the mold or greenalgae may be prevented from being generated on the cultivation shelf 30,and thus, the clean state may be maintained.

Particularly, the water supplied to the seat 320, on which the seedpackage 90 is mounted, as well as the seat 320, on which the seedpackage 90 is not mounted, may not be exposed. That is, when the seedpackage 90 is mounted, the inside of the seat 320 may be filled by theseed package 90, and water passing through the shutter 33 may besupplied to the seed package 90 m, and thus, the water supplied to theoutside may not be exposed.

In addition, when the seed package 90 is not mounted, the shutter 33 maybe maintained in the closed state so that the water in the shelf base 31is not exposed to the seat 320. Therefore, since the cultivation shelf30 is not expose the supplied water to the outside in any caseregardless of whether the seed package 90 is mounted, the contaminationdue to the water exposed to the outside may be fundamentally preventedto allow the inside of the cultivation space 100 to be maintained in theclean state.

The apparatus for cultivating plants according to an embodiment may beimplemented in various other embodiments in addition to the foregoingembodiment. According to another embodiment, there is a difference inarrangement structure of a seat of a cultivation shelf, and thus, thereis a difference in structure of a base seat and a base passage of ashelf base. Also, other structures except for the structure of the shelftray and the shelf base constituting the cultivation shelf are the sameas the above-described embodiment, and thus, the same reference numeralsare used to avoid duplication of descriptions for the sameconfiguration, and detailed descriptions and illustrations thereof willbe omitted.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a cultivation shelf according toanother embodiment. Also, FIG. 33 is a plan view of a shelf base that isone component of the cultivation shelf.

As illustrated in the drawings, an apparatus 1 for cultivating plantsaccording to another embodiment may include a cultivation shelf 30′. Thecultivation shelf 30′ may be configured so that the plurality of theseed packages 90 are seated, and the water supplied from the water tank70 may be supplied to the seed packages 90′.

Here, the seed package 90′ has a relatively small size compared to theabove-described embodiment and may have a structure including only onetype of plant. That is, the seed package 90′ may have about half thesize of the seed package 90 according to the above-described embodiment.

The cultivation shelf 30′ may include a shelf tray 39 on which the seedpackage 90′ is mounted, and a shelf base 38 accommodating water suppliedto the seed package 90′. Also, the shelf tray 39 may be seated on theshelf base 38 to define an outer appearance of the top surface of thecultivation shelf 30′.

The shelf tray 39 may be made of a metal material to have an excellentand clean outer appearance. For example, the shelf tray 39 may be madeof a stainless material to be resistant to contamination and tofacilitate cleaning and management.

The shelf tray 39 may be mounted in a state of overlapping a top surfaceof the shelf base 38 and may be provided in a shape corresponding to thetop surface shape of the shelf base 38. Also, when the shelf tray 39 ismounted, a front surface and left and right surfaces of the shelf base38 may be exposed, and the water supply portion 316 and theopening/closing member 36, which are disposed on a rear surface of theshelf base 38, may also protrude to a rear side of the shelf tray 39.

The shelf tray 39 may be provided in a rectangular shape when viewedfrom above. Also, the shelf tray 39 may include a tray top surface 391that defines an outer appearance of the top surface as a whole and aseat 390 recessed from a top surface. A plurality of seats 390 may beprovided in a horizontal and vertical direction, and as illustrated inFIG. 32, six seats may be provided in a left and right direction, threeseats may be provided in a horizontal direction, and two seats may beprovided in a vertical direction.

The seat 390 may be recessed in a shape corresponding to the seedpackage 90′ so that the seed package 90′ is seated. Here, a seat bottomsurface 392 defining an inner bottom surface of the seat 390 may have asize and shape corresponding to those of a bottom surface of the seedpackage 90′. Thus, when the seed package 90′ is seated on the seat 390,the bottom surface of the seed package 90′ may be in surface contactwith the seat bottom surface 392.

Also, the shutter 33 may be provided at a center of the bottom surface392 of the seat. One shutter 33 may be provided for each of theplurality of seats 390. Also, the shutter 33 may be mounted to passthrough the bottom surface 392 of the seat. The shutter 33 may movevertically to allow the water accommodated in the shelf base 38 to beselectively introduced.

The shutter 33 may operate according to the mounting of the seed package90′. That is, water may not be introduced into the seat 390, on whichthe seed package 90′ is not mounted, among the plurality of seats 390,and water may be introduced into the seat 390, on which the seed package90′ is mounted, so that the water may be supplied to the seed package90′.

That is, the shutter 33 may selectively supply water to the seat 390, onwhich the seed package 90′ is mounted, according to whether the seedpackage 90′ is mounted, among the plurality of seats 390.

The shutter 33 may be disposed at a position facing the water inlet 912of the seed package 90′, and when the seed package 90′ is seated on theseat 390, a portion of the shutter 33 may be accommodated inside thewater inlet 912, and a top surface of the water inlet 912 may press atop surface of the shutter 33 so that the shutter 33 operates. Astructure and operation of the shutter 33 may be the same as in theabove-described embodiment.

The shelf base 38 may be provided below the shelf tray 32. The shelfbase 38 may be configured to allow water supplied from the water tank 70to flow and be stored and may have a top surface shape corresponding toa bottom surface shape of the shelf tray 39 so that the shelf tray 39 isseated.

The shelf base 38 may be made of a plastic material and may be providedin a square shape corresponding to the shelf tray 39 when viewed fromabove. Also, the shelf base 38 may include a base top surface 381 onwhich the shelf tray 39 is mounted and a base seat 380. Also, a handle382 for the withdrawal of the cultivation shelf 30 may be provided on afront surface of the shelf base 38, and a base side surface 383 coupledto the shelf rail for the withdrawal of the cultivation shelf 30 may beprovided at each of both left and right sides of the shelf base 38.

Also, a shutter accommodation portion 315 in which the shutter 33 isaccommodated and a base passage 317 connecting the shutter accommodationportion 315 to the water supply portion 316 and the drain hole 319 maybe provided inside the shelf base 38. Also, a water supply portion 316through which water is supplied to the shelf base 38 may be provided atone side of a rear end of the shelf base 38. Also, an opening/closingmember 36 that opens and closes the drain hole 319 may be provided atthe other side of the rear end of the shelf base 38, and the floater 34that detects a water level of the shelf base 38 may be provided at oneside of the shelf base 38.

The base mounting portion 380 may be provided in a shape correspondingto the mounting portion 390. That is, six base seats 380 may also beprovided inside the shelf base 38.

Also, a shutter accommodation portion 315 may be provided at an innercenter of the base seat 380. The shutter accommodation portion 315 maybe disposed at a position corresponding to the shutter 33 in a state ofbeing mounted on the shelf tray 39, and the shutter accommodationportion 315 may be provided for each of the plurality of base seats 380.

Also, the shutter accommodation portion 315 may have a size capable ofaccommodating the shutter 33 therein. The shutter accommodation portion315 may be provided in a circular shape to accommodate a lower portionof the shutter 33 and may be recessed to a set height to secure verticalmovement of the shutter 33 without interfering with the shutter 33 whenthe shutter 33 moves vertically and secures. The shutter accommodationportion 315 may be recessed to a height at which the shutteraccommodation portion is spaced somewhat apart from the lower end of theshutter 33 when the shutter 33 moves to the lowermost position. Forexample, the set height may be approximately 14 mm.

The shelf base 38 may be provided with a base passage 317, through whichwater flows, on the shelf base 38. The base passage 317 may be providedto connect all of the water supply portion 316, the shutteraccommodation portion 315, the water level detection portion 317 f, thedrain hole 319, and the drain portion 318 to each other. In addition,the base passage 317 may guide the water supplied to the shelf base 38so as to be effectively supplied to the seed package 90 and drainedafter the water supply is completed.

The base passage 317 may include a water supply guide portion 317 a, awater supply guide portion 317 a, a branch portion 317 b, a connectionportion 317 g, and a drain guide portion 317 d.

In detail, the water supply guide portion 317 a may be configured toconnect the water supply portion 316 to the branch portion 317 b and mayextend from one end of the water supply portion 316 to the branchportion 317 b. In addition, the branch portion 317 b may be disposedalong the rear ends of the seats 320 disposed on the shelf base 38. Thebranch portion 317 b may pass through all of three base seats 380disposed on a rear portion of the shelf base 38, and one end of thebranch portion 317 b may be connected to the drain guide portion 317 bconnected to the drain hole 319.

The drain guide portion 317 d may be connected from one end of thebranch portion 317 b to the drain hole 319. Also, the drain hole 319 maybe defined in an end of the drain guide portion 317 d, and the drainhole 319 may be defined at the lowest position of the bottom surface ofthe drain guide portion 317 d. Thus, water passing through the branchportion 317 b may be naturally discharged to the drain hole 319 throughthe drain guide portion 317 d.

A plurality of connection portions 317 g may be disposed on the branchportion 317 b. The plurality of connection portions 317 g may beprovided for each of the base seats 380 and may be connected to theentire shutter accommodation portion 315 disposed on the shelf base 38.

In detail, the connection portion 317 g may include a front connectionportion 317 g″ and a rear connection portion 317 g′. The rear portionconnection portion 317 g′ may connect the branch portion 317 b to theshutter accommodation portion 315 inside the base seat 380 disposed atthe rear portion of the shelf base 38. Also, the front portionconnection portion 317 g″ may connect a shutter accommodation portion315 inside the base seat 380 disposed at a front portion of the shelfbase 38 to the shutter accommodation portion 315 inside the base seat380 disposed at the front portion of the shelf base 38.

Thus, water supplied through the water supply portion 316 may flowsequentially to the water supply guide portion 317 a and the branchportion 317 b. Also, the water flowing along the branch portion 317 bmay be first supplied to the shutter accommodation portion 315 insidethe base seats 380 disposed at the rear portion through a plurality ofthe rear portion connection portions 317 g′ and then may be supplied tothe shutter accommodation portion 315 inside the base seats 380 disposedat the front portion connected through the front portion connectionportion 317 g″. That is, the water may be supplied to all the shutteraccommodation portions 315 through the branch portion 317 b, the frontconnection portion 317 g′, and the rear connection portion 317 g″.

While water is supplied to the water supply portion 316 and until a settime elapses before the start of the drainage, the opening/closingmember 36 may be closed, and thus, the drain hole 319 may be in theclosed state. Thus, the water supply into the shutter accommodationportion 315 may be maintained.

The base passage 317 may further include a water level detection portion317 f. The water level detection portion 317 f may be configured toprevent water supply above a full water level into the shelf base 38from occurring and may be configured so that the floater 34 is disposedin the water level detection portion 317 f.

Also, the base passage 317 may further include a drain guide portion 317e. The drain guide portion 317 e may be disposed at one side of theshelf base 38 and be configured to prevent the water level of the shelfbase 38 from exceeding the limit water level.

The apparatus for cultivating the plants according to the embodiment mayexpect the following effects.

The apparatus for cultivating the plants according to the embodiment maybe sealed by the door, and the cultivation space may be controlled intemperature by the temperature adjustment device to create theenvironment that is easy to cultivate the plants. However, theenvironment of the cultivation space may be provided as the environmentunder which the mold and the green algae are easily generated. Thus, thewater may be selectively supplied to only the area on which the seedpackage is disposed, and after the set time elapses after the water issupplied, the cultivation shelf may be emptied to minimize the inside ofthe cultivation space from being contaminated, thereby improving thesanitation in the cultivation space.

Particularly, the cultivation shelf may include the shelf tray, on whichthe seed package is mounted, and the shelf base disposed under the shelftray to accommodate the water. In addition, the shelf tray may have thestructure that shields the shelf base from above to prevent the watersupplied to the cultivation shelf from being directly exposed to theoutside.

Therefore, the inside of the cultivation space may be prevented frombeing contaminated by the supplied water to prevent the green algae frombe generated by supplying the light to the water of the cultivationshelf, thereby maintaining the sanitation states of the cultivationshelf and the cultivation space.

In addition, the plurality of seats on which the seed package is seatedmay be disposed on the cultivation shelf, and the shutter that is openedwhen the seed package is seated may be provided on each of the seats.The shutter may enable the selective water supply to only the seat, onwhich the seed package is seated, among all the seats of the cultivationshelf, and thus, the water may not be supplied to the seat, on which theseed package is not mounted, to prevent the supplied water from beingexposed to the outside, thereby preventing the occurrence of thecontamination.

That is, when the seed package is mounted, the seat may be shielded bythe seed package, and the water passing through the shutter may besupplied to the seed package to prevent the water supplied to theoutside from being exposed. In addition, when the seed package is notmounted, the shutter may be maintained in the closed state so that thewater in the shelf base is not exposed to the seat. Therefore, since thecultivation shelf does not expose the supplied water to the outside inany case regardless of whether the seed package is mounted, the watercontamination may be fundamentally prevented to allow the inside of thecultivation space to be maintained in the clean state.

In addition, the cultivation shelf may be configured to provide thequantitative water supply by the pump, thereby preventing the water fromoverflowing due to the excessive supply of the water. Also, the waterlevel in the cultivation shelf may be detected by the water leveldetection device, and thus, when the water level in the cultivationshelf increases above the set level due to the malfunction of the pumpor the problem during the drainage, the increase in water level may bedetected to stop the water supply, thereby preventing the water fromoverflowing. In addition, even if the water is supplied in the situationin which the water level detection is impossible due to the malfunctionof the water level detection device, the drain portion may be disposedin the cultivation shelf to drain the water that is above the limitwater level when the water is supplied above the limit water level,thereby preventing the cultivation space from being contaminated.

In addition, the cultivation shelf may be provided with the base passagethrough which the water to be supplied is directed to the plurality ofbase seats to realize the uniform water supply to the cultivation shelf.In addition, the water in the cultivation shelf and the seed package maybe completely drained through the drain hole connected to the basepassage. Therefore, when the set time elapses enough to allow the plantsto absorb the water after the water is supplied, the water in thecultivation shelf is completely drained so that there is no water insidethe cultivation shelf to prevent the mold or the green algae from beinggenerated, thereby preventing the odor in the cultivation space fromoccurring and improving the sanitation.

In addition, the cultivation shelf may have the structure that isaccessible and also may have a structure that does not interfere withthe water supply pipe and the drain pipe even when the cultivation shelfis inserted and withdrawn. Therefore, the water may be automaticallysupplied and drained by the user, and simultaneously, the seed packagemay be easily detached, and the plants may be easily managed through theinsertion and withdrawal of the cultivation shelf, thereby improving theconvenience in use.

In addition, the electrical device for detecting the water level and theposition of the shelf may not be disposed on the cultivation shelf, andthe water level and the position of the shelf may be respectivelydetected through the water level detection device and the shelfdetection device at the outside of the cultivation shelf. As a result,since the electric wire and the power supply structure are not disposedon the cultivation shelf having the accessible structure, thecultivation shelf may be simplified in structure.

In addition, the shutter may be opened by the weight of the seed packagewithout providing the electrical device or supplying the power and beclosed by the buoyancy of the shutter due to the supplied water tosecure the operational reliability, and the cultivation shelf may bemore simplified in configuration.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for cultivating plants, theapparatus comprising: a cabinet that defines a cultivation space; atemperature control device disposed in the cabinet and configured toadjust a temperature of the cultivation space; a door configured to openand close at least a portion of the cultivation space; a shelf disposedin the cabinet and configured to support a seed package of the plants; alighting device disposed in the cabinet and configured to radiate lightto the shelf; and a water supply pipe disposed in the cabinet andconfigured to supply water to the shelf, wherein the shelf comprises: atray comprising a seat configured to support the seed package, a shelfbase disposed vertically below the tray and configured to accommodatethe water supplied from the water supply pipe, and a shutter disposed atthe seat and configured to open at least a portion of the seat tothereby supply the water in the shelf base to an inside of the seat. 2.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter comprises: apressing member configured to protrude to the inside of the seat, thepressing member being configured to move downward from the inside of theseat based on the seed package being disposed in the seat; acommunication member that is disposed vertically below the pressingmember and defines a communication hole configured to communicate thewater between the shelf base and the inside of the seat; and a shuttermember coupled to the pressing member and configured to move verticallytogether with the pressing member to thereby open and close thecommunication hole.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theshutter further comprises a spring that supports the pressing member andis configured to apply force to the shutter member to close thecommunication hole based on the seed package not being disposed in theseat.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shutter memberis disposed vertically below the communication hole, and wherein theshutter member is configured to, based on a water level in the shelfbase, move upward to maintain the communication hole in a closed state.5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the shuttermember and the pressing member is configured to, based on an amount ofthe water in the shelf base being less than a reference amount, movedownward by a weight of each of the shutter member and the pressingmember to maintain the communication hole in an opened state.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication member definesa through-hole, wherein the shutter further comprises a boss portionthat connects the pressing member to the shutter member through thethrough-hole, and wherein the communication hole is arranged around thethrough-hole.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shutterfurther comprises a sealing member that is disposed between the shuttermember and the communication member, the sealing member configured tocontact the communication member at an outside of the communicationhole, and wherein the sealing member is configured to contact thecommunication member based on the shutter member moving upward tothereby block introduction of the water into the seat.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the seat is one of a plurality of trayseats that are recessed from the tray, wherein the shelf base defines aplurality of base seats that are recessed in a shape corresponding tothe plurality of tray seats, each of the plurality of base seats beingconfigured to accommodate one of the plurality of tray seats, andwherein each of the plurality of base seats is recessed relative to abottom surface of each of the plurality of tray seats and configured toaccommodate the water supplied from the water supply pipe.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shelf base further defines ashutter accommodation portion configured to receive a portion of thewater supplied from the water supply pipe, the shutter accommodationportion having a downward movement space that is recessed from a bottomsurface of each of the plurality of base seats and configured toaccommodate the shutter based on the shutter moving down toward theshelf base.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shelfbase further defines: a water supply portion disposed at a rear end ofthe shelf base and configured to receive the water supplied from thewater supply pipe; and a base passage that connects the water supplyportion to the plurality of base seats and is configured to guide thewater from the water supply portion to each of the plurality of baseseats, the base passage being recessed from the shelf base.
 11. Theapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shelf base further definesa drain hole at the rear end of the shelf base, the drain hole beingconnected to the base passage and configured to discharge the water inthe shelf base, and wherein the shelf further comprises anopening/closing member disposed at the shelf base and configured to openand close the drain hole.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11,wherein the opening/closing member is rotatably coupled to the shelfbase and configured to rotate relative to the shelf base to thereby openand close the drain hole, and wherein the apparatus further comprises adriving device disposed vertically above the shelf and configured torotate the opening/closing member.
 13. The apparatus according to claim1, further comprising: a water tank disposed in the cabinet andconfigured to store water to be supplied to the shelf; a pump disposedbetween the water supply pipe and the water tank and configured tosupply the water in the water tank to the shelf through the water supplypipe; and a drain pipe disposed in the cabinet and configured to guidethe water drained from the shelf to the water tank, wherein the pump isconfigured to circulate the water through the water tank and the shelf.14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pump is configuredto be driven to supply the water above a water level that is higher thana bottom surface of the seat.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14,further comprising: a floater disposed in the shelf base and configuredto vertically move based on the water level, the floater comprising amagnet; and a water level detector that is disposed vertically below theshelf base and spaced apart from the shelf base, the water leveldetector being configured to detect a change of a magnetic field of themagnet, wherein the pump is configured to stop circulating the waterbased on the water level detector detecting the water level being higherthan a set water level.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 13, whereinthe shelf base comprises a drain portion that is disposed at a heightbetween a bottom surface of the seat and an upper end of the shelf base,the drain portion being opened to a lower side of the shelf base andconfigured to drain the water from the shelf.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of shelves thatare disposed in the cabinet and vertically spaced apart from oneanother, the shelf being one of the plurality of shelves; a plurality ofpumps, the pump being one of the plurality of pumps; and a plurality ofwater supply pipes, the water supply pipe being one of the plurality ofwater supply pipes, wherein each of a number of the plurality of pumpsand a number of the plurality of water supply pipes corresponds to anumber of the plurality of shelves, and wherein each of the plurality ofpumps is configured to independently supply water to one of theplurality of shelves through one of the plurality of water supply pipes.18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seed packagecomprises: a container that is configured to communicate with the seatand defines an accommodation space configured to receive the water fromthe seat; a container cover that covers an opened top surface of thecontainer; and a seed accommodation member disposed in the accommodationspace and configured to accommodate a seed of the plants, the seedaccommodation member being made of an absorbent material configured tosupply the water in the accommodation space to the seed, and wherein thecontainer comprises: a water inflow portion recessed from a bottomsurface of the container and configured to accommodate the shutter, anda plurality of container openings defined around the water inflowportion and configured to introduce the water from the seat into thecontainer.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray ismade of a stainless material, and the shelf base is made of a plasticmaterial.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the traycomprises a plurality of tray seats that are respectively recessed fromthe tray, the seat being one of the plurality of tray seats; and whereinthe shelf further comprises a plurality of shutters that are arrangedalong an extension line passing through the shelf, the shutter being oneof the plurality of shutters, and wherein each of the plurality ofshutters is disposed in one of the plurality of tray seats.